This ceremony he went through slowly, as one dazed by a great fall or a heavy fatigue.

His servant, a quick, silent man, noticed the strangeness of his manner, and like a wise servant only betrayed the result of his observation by a readier service, a quicker hand, a quieter motion.
As Steinmetz went to the drawing-room he glanced at his watch.

It was twenty minutes past seven.

He still had ten minutes to spare before dinner.
He opened the drawing-room door.

Etta was sitting by the fire, alone.
She glanced back over her shoulder in a quick, hunted way which had only become apparent to Steinmetz since her arrival at Petersburg.
"Good-evening," she said.
"Good-evening, madame," he answered.
He closed the door carefully behind him..