As if she knew it, she took her measures, rose abruptly, and
after two turns about the room went to a safe, opened it, and plunged
herself into the ledger-book, which she took from it. Upon that and a
cash-box--with certain involuntary pauses, in which her eyes concentrated
and stared--she remained closely engaged until half-past eleven.
At that hour, having ascertained it, she put by her work, went into her
bedroom, and began a deliberate and careful toilet. She was pale, serious,
and evidently rather scared at herself; she lifted her eyebrows and opened
wide her eyes. But she did what she had to do as daintily as ever Amina,
in the Arab tale, figured her rice. A person of great simplicity, who did
extraordinary things in an ordinary way, at the hour when all Wanless was
going to bed, she brushed and banded her shining hair, and dressed herself
in silk and lace as for a dinner party. To herself in the glass she gave
and received again a face of pure pity and sorrow. She saw herself lovely
and love-worthy, sleek under the caress of her own beauty. Yet she knew
exactly what she was about to do, and how she would do it, and did not
falter at all.
At a quarter past twelve her summons came--a knock at the door, the
turning of the handle, the push to open, and Ingram's voice.
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