Both were luxuriously comfortable till a hand
rapped smartly upon the window and made them jump.
Ronnie exclaimed with a violence that astonished Hope, and started to
his feet. She also sprang up eagerly, almost expecting to see her
_fiance_. But her expectations were quickly dashed.
"It's that fellow Hyde!" Ronnie said, looking at her rather doubtfully.
"You don't mind?"
Her face fell, but he did not wait for her reply. He stepped across to
the window, and admitted the visitor.
Hyde sauntered in with a casual air.
He came across to her, smiling in the way she loathed, and almost before
she realized it he had her hand in a tight, impressive grip, and his
pale eyes were gazing full into hers.
"You look as fresh as an English rose," was his deliberate greeting.
Hope freed her hand with a slight, involuntary gesture of disgust. Till
the moment of seeing him again she had almost forgotten how utterly
objectionable he was.
"I am quite well," she said coldly. "I think I shall go to bed, Ronnie.
I'm tired."
Ronnie was pouring some whisky into a glass. She noticed that his hand
was very shaky.
"All right," he said, not looking at her.
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