Chapter 6
The three diners lingered for only a short time over their
dessert. Afterwards, they passed together into a very delightful
library on the other side of the round, stone-paved hall. Hilditch
excused himself for a moment.
“I have some cigars which I keep in my dressing-room,” he
explained, “and which I am anxious for you to try. There is an
electric stove there and I can regulate the temperature.”
He departed, closing the door behind him. Francis came a little
further into the room. His hostess, who had subsided into an
easy-chair and was holding a screen between her face and the fire,
motioned him to, seat himself opposite. He did so without words. He
felt curiously and ridiculously tongue-tied. He fell to studying
the woman instead of attempting the banality of poin
