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The lovers looked at one another in terror. Calvert, surprised by Laura's sudden entrance, had no time to compose his features. She, seeing his face, and coming to him already filled with suspicions against which she strove vainly to fight, reflected the paleness and haggard looks which startled her. For the moment both masks had dropped, and these human beings, devoured by terror, stared at one another as though the fabled Gorgon had changed them into stone. Arnold was the first to recover himself. He smoothed his face to a smile, and held out his hands, which she took in a passive manner. "I did not expect to see you here, dearest," he said, leading her to a chair. "But how ill you look. Nothing is wrong, I hope."
Laura sat down still gazing at him, but did not reply. "How does my sister's maid come to be in this house? " she asked abruptly.