That's all.' A loud knocking at the outer door prevented the lady from answering.
She looked at Mr.Van Torp in surprise.
'What's that ?' she asked, rather anxiously.
'I don't know,' he answered.

'He couldn't guess that you were here, could he ?' 'Oh no! That's quite out of the question!' 'Then I'll open the door,' said the millionaire, and he left the sitting-room.
The lady had not risen, and she still leaned back in her seat.

She idly tapped the knuckles of her gloved hand with the small envelope.
The knocking was repeated, she heard the outer door opened, and the sound of voices followed directly.
'Oh!' Mr.Van Torp exclaimed in a tone of contemptuous surprise, 'it's you, is it?
Well, I'm busy just now.

I can't see you till to-morrow.' 'My business will not keep till to-morrow,' answered an oily voice in a slightly foreign accent.
At the very first syllables the lady rose quickly to her feet, and resting one hand on the table she leant forward in the direction of the door, with an expression that was at once eager and anxious, and yet quite fearless.
'What you call your business is going to wait my convenience,' said Mr.Van Torp.

'You'll find me here to-morrow morning until eleven o'clock.' From the sounds the lady judged that the American now attempted to shut the door in his visitor's face, but that he was hindered and that a scuffle followed.
'Hold him!' cried the oily voice in a tone of command.