Pagina 461 di 657

I paced up and down the room, humming a tune under my breath to

keep up my spirits and feeling that I was thoroughly earning my

fifty-guinea fee.

"Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the

utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman

was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind

her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and

beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with

fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one

shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few

whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back,

like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her.

"'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to

speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no

good for you to do.'

"'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I

cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.'