But, for Heaven's sake, shut
that window!" He shivered involuntarily and pushed the lock
of damp hair from his forehead with a weak touch of his old
irritability.
In silence Loder moved back to the window and shut it. He was
affected more than he would own even to himself by the obvious
change in Chilcote. He had seen him moody, restless,
nervously excited; but never before had he seen him entirely
demoralized. With a dull feeling of impotence and disgust he
stood by the closed window, looking unseeingly at the roofs of
the opposite houses.
But Chilcote had followed his movements restlessly; and now,
as he watched him, a flicker of excitement crossed his face.
"God! Loder," he said, again, "'twas a relief to see you! I
dreamed I was in hell--a horrible hell, worse than the one
they preach about."
He laughed to reassure himself, but his voice shook pitiably.
Loder, who had come to fight, stood silent and inert.
"It was horrible--beastly," Chilcote went on. "There was no
fire and brimstone, but there was something worse.
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