He arrested her retreat, resenting the meekness which that summons had imposed upon her.
"But what are we to do about this?" he demanded, with a gesture toward the Titian.
"What is best to do?" she asked in a whisper.
It took some time before he seemed able to answer that question.
"First thing, I want to wire for Banning. He's the head of our house. This thing's too big for me to handle alone. I've got to get Banning here as soon as wheels can bring him. Then—oh, confound that bell! It sounds like something out of Dante!"
"I must go!" she told him.
He was tempted to smile for a moment at what seemed like terror on her face. But there were certain things he had not forgotten.
"And what will you do with me?" he asked, holding her back by one white hand.
"You'll have to go down by the back stairway," she whispered.
