Several seconds passed.  The green eyes were staring at the bookshelves beyond Olga, but it was a stony, pitiless stare.  Had he any idea as to how formidable he looked, she wondered?  Surely—­surely he did not mean to keep her against her will!  He could not!

She collected herself and spoke.  “Dr. Wyndham, will you let me go?”

Instantly his eyes met hers.  “Certainly,” he said, “if you will promise me first not to go to ‘The Ship’ till after the funeral.”

She felt her face gradually whitening.  “But I mean to go.  Why shouldn’t I?”

“Simply because it wouldn’t be good for you,” he made calm reply.

“How ridiculous!” They were the only words that occurred to her.  She spoke them with vehemence.

He received them in silence, and she saw that a greater effort would be necessary if she hoped to assert her independence with any success.

It was essential that she should do so, and she braced herself for a more determined attempt.  “Dr. Wyndham,” she said, throwing as much command into her voice as she could muster, “open that door—­at once!”

She saw again that glint in his eyes that seemed to mock her weakness.  He stood his ground.  “Fair lady,” he said, “with regret I refuse.”

She made a sharp movement forward, nerved for the fray by sheer all-possessing anger.  She gripped the handle of the door above his hand and gave it a sharp wrench.  He would not—­surely he would not—­struggle with her!  Surely she must discomfit him—­rout him utterly—­by this means!

Yes, she had won!  The sheer unexpectedness of her action had gained the day!  Her heart gave a great leap of triumph as he took his hand away.  But the next instant it stood still.  For in the twinkling of an eye he had taken her by the shoulders holding her fast.

“That is the most foolish thing you ever did in your life,” he said, and his words came curt and clipped as though he spoke them through his teeth.

Something about him restrained her from offering any resistance.  She stood in silence, her heart jerking on again with wild palpitations.  The grip of his hands was horribly close; she almost thought he was going to shake her.  But his eyes under their bristling brows held her even more securely.  Under their look she was suddenly hotly ashamed.

“You are going to make me that promise,” he said.

But she stood silent, trying to muster strength to defy him.

“What do you want to go for?” he demanded.

“I want to know—­I want to know—­” She stammered over her answer; it was uttered against her will.

“Well?  What?” Still holding her, he put the question.  “I can tell you anything you want to know.”

“But you won’t!” Olga plucked up her spirit at this.  “It’s no good asking you anything.  You never answer.”

“I will answer you,” he said.

“And besides—­” said Olga.