Who or what could he be, this silent man?
Then suddenly it struck her that he might be dumb.
"Perhaps monsieur is afflicted," she said.

"Perhaps monsieur cannot speak.

If that be the cause of your silence, will you raise your hand, and I shall understand." He sat rigid and silent.
Then a sudden mad fear came upon her, shut up in the dark with this dreadful voiceless thing.

She screamed in her terror, and strove to pull down the window and open the door.

But a grip of steel closed suddenly round her wrist and forced her back into her seat.