It seemed to him she was there an eternity, but in reality it was only a half-hour.
She had found Lot sitting as usual before the fire with a leather-covered volume on his knees.

"I have come," she said, standing just inside the door; then she started at the look he gave her.

There was a significance in it which she could not understand.
He did not say a word for full five minutes while she waited.

He did not even ask her to be seated.

"Do you know the date ?" he asked then, harshly.