But she turned away, and walked swiftly to the door.

Joseph, however, peeping in behind Mary, had caught a glimpse of the bottle and tumbler, also of Sepia's face.

Seeing her now retiring with the bottle in her hand, he sprang after her, and, thanks to the fact that she had locked the door, was in time to snatch it from her.

She turned like a wild beast, and a terrible oath came hissing as from a feline throat.

When, however, she saw, not Mary, but the unknown figure of a powerful man, she turned again to the door and fled.