He reached down and patted the shapely golden head, but the cat withdrew, curled himself into a coil of perfect luxuriousness, with the firelight casting a warm, rosy glow upon his golden beauty, purred a little while, then sank into the mystery of animal sleep.
Von Rosen sat listening.

He told himself that Sturtevant should be back within half an hour.

When only ten minutes had passed he took out his watch and was dismayed to find how short a time had elapsed.
He replaced his watch and leaned back.

He was always listening uneasily.

He had encountered illness and death and distress, but never anything quite like this.