Captain Carroll alone remained
there, erect and motionless, before the threshold.
At a sign from Maruja, he entered the room. In the flash of light
made by the opening door, he had been perfectly conscious of her
companion, but not a motion of his eye or the movement of a muscle
of his face betrayed it. The trained discipline of his youth stood
him in good service, and for the moment left him master of the
situation.
"I think no apology is needed for this intrusion," he said, with
cool composure. "Pereo seemed intent on murdering somebody or
something, and I followed him here. I suppose I might have got him
away more quietly, but I was afraid you might have thoughtlessly
opened the door." He stopped, and added, "I see now how unfounded
was the supposition."
It was a fatal addition. In the next instant, the Maruja who had
been standing beside Guest, conscious-stricken and remorseful in
the presence of the man she had deceived, and calmly awaiting her
punishment, changed at this luckless exhibition of her own peculiar
womanly weapons. The old Maruja, supreme, ready, undaunted, and
passionless, returned to the fray.
"You were wrong, Captain," she said, sweetly; "fortunately, Mr.
Guest--whom I see you have forgotten in your absence--was with me,
and I think would have felt it his duty to have protected me. But
I thank you all the same, and I think even Mr. Guest will not allow
his envy of your good fortune in coming so gallantly to my rescue
to prevent his appreciating its full value.
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