Loder, engrossed in the check to his own schemes, incensed at the suddenness of Chilcote’s recall, and still more incensed at his own folly in not having anticipated it, was oblivious for the moment of both her movement and her words.  Then, quite abruptly, they obtruded themselves upon him, breaking through his egotism with something of the sharpness of pain following a blow.  Turning quickly from the fireplace, he faced the shadowy room across which she had passed, but simultaneously with his turning she gained the door.

The knowledge that she was gone struck him with a sense of double loss.  “Wait!” he called, suddenly moving forward.  But almost at once he paused, chilled by the solitude of the room.

“Eve!” he said, using her name unconsciously for the first time.

But the corridor, as well as the room, was empty; he was too late.  He stood irresolute; then he laughed shortly, turned, and passed back towards the fireplace.

The blow had fallen, the inevitable come to pass, and nothing remained but to take the fact with as good a grace as possible.  Chilcote’s telegram had summoned him to Clifford’s Inn at seven o’clock, and it was now well on towards six.  He pulled out his watch—­Chilcote’s watch he realized, with a touch of grim humor as he stooped to examine the dial by the light of the fire; then, as if the humor had verged to another feeling, he stood straight again and felt for the electric button in the wall.  His fingers touched it, and simultaneously the room was lighted.

The abrupt alteration from shadow to light came almost as a shock.  The feminine arrangement of the tea-table seemed incongruous beside the sober books and the desk laden with papers—­incongruous as his own presence in the place.  The thought was unpleasant, and he turned aside as if to avoid it; but at the movement his eyes fell on Chilcote’s cigarette-box with its gleaming monogram, and the whimsical suggestion of his first morning rose again.  The idea that the inanimate objects in the room knew him for what he was—­recognized the interloper where human eyes saw the rightful possessor—­returned to his mind.  Through all his disgust and chagrin a smile forced itself to his lips, and, crossing the room for the second time, he passed into Chilcote’s bedroom.

There the massive furniture and sombre atmosphere fitted better with his mood than the energy and action which the study always suggested.  Walking directly to the great bed, he sat on its side and for several minutes stared straight in front of him, apparently seeing nothing; then at last the apathy passed from him, as his previous anger against Chilcote had passed.  He stood up slowly, drawing his long limbs together, and recrossed the room, passing along the corridor and through the door communicating with the rest of the house.  Five minutes later he was in the open air and walking steadily eastward, his hat drawn forward and his overcoat buttoned up.