She was suddenly conscious that there was a new danger to be faced, and that this man's attitude towards her was, for some reason or other, inimical.

After the first shock, however, she prepared herself to do battle.
"Well, you seem very mysterious," she observed.

"I haven't broken any laws, have I?
No lights flashing from any of my windows ?" "So far as I am aware, there are no complaints of the sort," the Commandant acknowledged, still speaking with an unnatural restraint.

"My call, I hope, may be termed, to some extent, at least, a friendly one." "How nice!" she sighed.

"Then you'll have some tea, won't you ?" "Not at present, if you please," he begged.