"You are mad!" she cried.
"Let me open the door, Charmian."
"No, no--I say no!"
"Whoever it was must not escape--open the door!"
"Never! never--I tell you--death is outside--there's murder in
the very air; I feel it--and--dear God--the door has no bolt."
"They are gone now--whoever they were," said I reassuringly; "the
danger is over--if danger it could be called."
"Danger!" cried Charmian. "I tell you--it was death."
"Yet, after all, it may have been only some homeless wanderer."
"Then why that deadly, silent caution?"
"True!" said I, becoming thoughtful.
"Bring the table, Peter, and set it across the door."
"Surely the table is too light to--"
"But it will give sufficient warning--not that I shall sleep
again to-night. Oh, Peter! had I not been dreaming, and happened
to wake--had I not chanced to look towards the door, it would
have opened--wide, and then--oh, horrible!"
"You were dreaming?"
"A hateful, hateful dream, and awoke in terror, and, being
afraid, glanced towards the door, and saw it opening--and now
--bring the table, Peter."
Now, groping about, my hand encountered one of the candles, and
taking out my tinder-box, all unthinking, I lighted it.
Charmian was leaning against the door, clad in a flowing white
garment--a garment that was wonderfully stitched--all dainty
frills and laces, with here and there a bow of blue riband,
disposed, it would seem, by the hand of chance, and yet most
wonderfully. And up from this foam of laces her shoulders rose,
white, and soft, and dimpled, sweeping up in noble lines to the
smooth round column of her throat. But as I stared at all this
loveliness she gave a sudden gasp, and stooped her head, and
crossed her hands upon her bosom, while up over the snow of
shoulder, over neck and cheek and brow ebbed that warm, crimson
tide; and I could only gaze and gaze--till, with a movement swift
and light, she crossed to that betraying candle and, stooping,
blew out the light.
Then I set the table across the door, having done which I stood
looking towards where she yet stood.
"Charmian," said I.
"Yes, Peter."
"To-morrow--"
"Yes, Peter?"
"I will make a bar to hold the door."
"Yes, Peter."
"Two bars would be better, perhaps?"
"Yes, Peter."
"You would feel safe, then--safer than ever?"
"Safer than ever, Peter."