“Do not dare to touch that, Martha,” they heard her voice say haughtily, and then she called out, “Sasha, I have it safe and I will do exactly as you direct.”

Count Roumovski looked at Eustace Medlicott, who stood as a spread-eagle in front of the door—­and then, smiling, went calmly on his way.

The Reverend Mr. Medlicott shook with burning rage.  He was being made to look ridiculous and he was absolutely impotent to retaliate in any way.  He would bring scandal upon them all if waiters and other guests saw him guarding Miss Rawson’s actual door, and he could not sit outside like a valet; the whole thing was unspeakably maddening, and murderous thoughts flooded his brain.

“Give me that letter this minute, Stella,” he said in an almost inarticulate voice through the keyhole, he was so shaken with passion.  “Open the door and let Martha hand it to me.  You are disgracing us all.”

“It is you who are doing that, Eustace,” Stella said from beyond the panel, lifting the slide that her voice might be heard distinctly.  “You have no authority over me at all.  I told Aunt Caroline I did not intend to continue my engagement with you—­but even if I had not decided to break it off, this conduct of yours would now be sufficient reason.  How dare you all treat me as though I were a naughty child or insane!”

“Because you are both,” Mr. Medlicott returned, “and must be controlled and compelled into a proper behavior.”

Stella was silent—­she would not be so undignified as to parley further.  She got back into bed, taking not the slightest notice of the maid, and then proceeded to read her letter.

Her lover had explained in it the situation and advised her to dress at once, and then if menaced in any way to ring the bell.  Ivan would be waiting outside to obey her slightest orders, and to warn his master if any fresh moves were made, so that when the waiter or chambermaid came in answer to her summons she might be sure of extra help at hand.  Then she was to walk out and down into the hall, where he, Sasha, would be watching for her and ready to take her to the Excelsior Hotel, where that same evening would arrive the Princess Urazov.  “But if they do not molest you, dearest,” he wrote, “do not leave your room until seven o’clock, because I wish my sister to be in the hall ready to receive you that your family can see that I only desire to do everything right.”

And as she finished reading, Stella got up and told Martha to prepare her things.

“I have no orders from Mrs. Ebley for that, Miss Stella,” the woman answered sullenly.  “I do wonder what has come over everybody.  I never was in such an uncomfortable position in my life.”

Stella made no answer, but proceeded to dress herself, and then sat down to read again the letters she had received in the last twenty-four hours.

If her family, who knew her, could treat her in this abominable way, when she had committed no fault except the very human one of desiring to be the arbiter of her own fate, she surely owed no further obedience to them.  So she waited calmly for a fresh turn of events.