Certain eccentricities are allowable in authors.
This settled, he proceeded to take a chair and envelope himself in smoke.
With eyes fixed on the dimly-lighted vista of the hall before him, he waited.

What would happen next?
Would his wife reappear?
No; supper was coming up.

He could hear dishes rattling on the rear stairway, and in another moment saw the maid coming down the hall with a large tray in her hands.

She stopped at Anitra's door, knocked, and was answered by the harsh command: "Set it down.

I'll get it for myself." The maid set it down.
Next instant Mrs.Ransom's door opened.
"Don't be too generous with me," he heard her call softly out.