"If you don't--I'll murder you!" he said.
And at that he stopped short and suddenly wheeled round as he caught the swish of a dress on the stairs.

He looked up into Avery's face as she came swiftly down, and the blood rose in a deep, dark wave to his forehead.

He made no attempt to cover or excuse his passionate outburst, which it was perfectly obvious she must have heard.

He merely made way for her, his hands still hard clenched, his eyes immovably upon her.
Avery passed him with scarcely a glance, but her voice as she addressed Lennox Tudor sounded a trifle austere.

"I heard you speaking," she said, "and ran down to fetch you upstairs.