In the act of closing the door behind him, he saw Lane, and started violently back.

His face turned white.

His action, his look silenced the talk.
"Lane! What do you want ?" he jerked out.
Lane eyed him without replying.

He thought he read more in Swann's face and voice than any of the amazed onlookers.
"Dick, I fetched Lane up for a little game," put in Pepper, with composure.
Swann jerked as violently out of his stiffened posture as he had frozen into it.

His face changed--showed comprehension--relief--then flamed with anger.
"Pepper, it's a damn high-handed imposition for you to bring strangers here," he burst out.
"Well, I'm sorry you take it that way," replied Pepper, with deprecatory spreading of his hands.