This was amply sufficient to account for her feeling of horror, her evident desire to escape further contact with me.

Hardy had been blind and blundering--had made things worse, rather than better; now I must see what I could do.

I rapped at the panel, and thought I heard a faint response.

A moment later I stood within, and had closed the door behind me.

She was on a couch at the opposite side of the room, but arose to her feet instantly, her face white, one hand sweeping back the strands of ruffled hair.
"You!" she exclaimed incredulously.