My abrupt movement made her recoil two or three steps.

I was obliged to apologize, which I did more concisely than politely.

No man likes to be dogged, and in the very irritable mood in which I then was the sight of Mdlle.

Reuter thoroughly incensed me.

At the moment I turned her countenance looked hard, dark, and inquisitive; her eyes were bent upon me with an expression of almost hungry curiosity.