But he was walking up the path, with the huge rose bushes on either side.

It can't be done like this.

But his hand had grasped the bell, given it a pull, and started it pealing wildly, as if he'd come to say the house was on fire.

The housemaid must have been in the hall, too, for the front door flashed open, and Reggie was shut in the empty drawing-room before that confounded bell had stopped ringing.

Strangely enough, when it did, the big room, shadowy, with some one's parasol lying on top of the grand piano, bucked him up--or rather, excited him.