At any moment the door of the room in which the girl was supping might open--it was adjacent to the hall--and she come out, and the two would meet.

Nor did the suspense last a moment or two only.

Fresh horses could not be ready in a minute, even in those times, when day and night post-horses stood harnessed in the stalls.
Even Mr.Dunborough could not be served in a moment.

So he roared for a pint of claret and a crust, sent one servant flying this way, and another that, hectored up and down the entrance, to the admiration of the peeping chambermaids; and for a while added much to the bustle.

Once in those minutes the fateful door did open, but it emitted only a waiter.