Even Etta was affected by it.

During the silence recorded she was quelling a sudden desire to say things to this man which she had never said to any.

She only succeeded in part.
"Do you ever feel an unaccountable sensation of dread," she asked, with a weary little laugh; "a sort of foreboding with nothing definite to forebode ?" "Unaccountable--no," replied Steinmetz.

"But then I am a German--and stout, which may make a difference.

I have no nerves." He looked into the fire through his benevolent gold-rimmed spectacles.
"Is it nerves--or is it Petersburg ?" she asked abruptly.