Once more, Minna and I waited on the ground floor.

Here, there was another ancient brass lamp which lighted the hall; and, therefore, another object of beauty which it was impossible to pass over in a hurry.
"I never knew mamma to behave so oddly before," said Minna.

"If such a thing wasn't impossible, in our situation, one would really think she wanted Mr.Keller to catch us in the house!" There was not the least doubt in my mind (knowing as I did, how deeply Madame Fontaine was interested in forcing her acquaintance on Mr.Keller) that this was exactly what she did want.

Fortune is proverbially said to favor the bold; and Fortune offered to the widow the perilous opportunity of which she had been in search.
While she was still admiring the lamp, the grating sound became audible of a key put into the street door.
The door opened, and Mr.Keller walked into the hall.
He stopped instantly at the sight of two ladies who were both strangers to him, and looked interrogatively at his partner.

Mr.Engelman had no choice but to risk an explanation of some kind.