He turned towards her as she advanced, and disclosed the detestable face of Mr.Le Frank.
The music-master's last reserves of patience had come to an end.

Watch for them as he might, no opportunities had presented themselves of renewing his investigation in Carmina's room.

In the interval that had passed, his hungry suspicion of her had been left to feed on itself.
The motives for that incomprehensible attempt to make a friend of him remained hidden in as thick a darkness as ever.

Victim of adverse circumstances, he had determined (with the greatest reluctance) to take the straightforward course.

Instead of secretly getting his information from Carmina's journals and letters, he was now reduced to openly applying for enlightenment to Carmina herself.
Occupying, for the time being, the position of an honourable man, he presented himself at cruel disadvantage.