The door in front of her suddenly opened, and she was face to face with Monck himself.
He stood leaning slightly on the handle of the door.

He was draped in a long dressing-gown of Oriental silk that hung upon him dejectedly as if it yearned for a stouter tenant.

In it he looked leaner and taller than he had ever seemed to her before.

He had a cigarette between his lips, but this he removed with a flicker of humour as he observed her glance.
"Caught in the act," he remarked.

"Please come in!" Something that was very far from humour impelled Stella to say quickly, "I hope you don't imagine I was eavesdropping." He looked sardonic for an instant.