She longed to put that steady hand away from her, but she felt physically incapable of doing so.

An odd powerlessness possessed her.

She was as one caught in a trap.
Yet after a second or two she mustered strength to ask a question to which she had long desired an answer.

"Did you ever hear any more of him ?" "Not for certain.

I believe he left the country, but I don't know.
Anyway, he found this district too hot to hold him, for he never broke cover in this direction again.