"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 possibl
