She looked at the timepiece on her table, which indicated twenty-five minutes past ten.

She had heard the door open.
The footman was already before her and presented to her a card upon a salver.

She took the card, looked at it, frowned, glanced again at the clock, seemed to hesitate, then: "Let him wait in the small salon, and say that I will be there immediately," said she, and turning again toward Ardea: "You think you have escaped.

You have not.

I do not give you permission to go before I return.