She did not turn back to him, but stood facing the door as she replied; so that he could not see her face.
"I had kept all the dances after supper free.

If I am not in the way I would rather wait with you." "Of course." He was careful to use the most commonplace tone with the thought that it would steady her.

The trouble which this telephone message would finally dispel was clearly not all which distressed her.

She needed companionship; her voice broke, as though her heart were breaking too.
He saw her raise a wisp of handkerchief to her eyes; and then the telephone bell rang at his side.

He was calling at a venture upon the number which Commodore Graham had rung up in the office above the old waterway of the Thames.
"Is that Scotland Yard ?" he asked, and he gave the address at which Mario Escobar was to be found.