Marian was at the stairhead waiting for me. She had a folded slip of paper in her hand.
“The landlord’s son has brought this for you,” she said. “He has got a cab at the door—he says you ordered him to keep it at your disposal.”
“Quite right, Marian. I want the cab—I am going out again.”
I descended the stairs as I spoke, and looked into the sitting-room to read the slip of paper by the light on the table. It contained these two sentences in Pesca’s handwriting—
“Your letter is received. If I don’t see you before the time you mention, I will break the seal when the clock strikes.”
I placed the paper in my pocketbook, and made for the door. Marian met me on the threshold, and pushed me back into the room, where the candlelight fell full on my face. She held me by both hands, and her eyes fastened searchingly on mine.
“I see!” she said, in a low eager whisper. “You are trying the last chance tonight.”
“Yes, the last chance and the best,” I whispered back.
“Not alone! Oh, Walter, for God’s sake, not alone! Let me go with you. Don’t refuse me because I’m only a woman. I must go! I will go! I’ll wait outside in the cab!”
It was my turn now to hold her . She tried to break away from me and get down first to the door.