tiles loose under the foot. At the farther end of the court there ran
away a broad corridor into the dusk, and here also, full fifty feet
distant, rose the grand stairway with ornate sweeping balustrade ending
in a tall carved newel-post. Obsolete and ruined and queer the whole
placed looked, indeed....

"Luckily," added Dr. Vivian, "I'm in good time to serve as a guide."

But Miss Heth was already walking past him with an expensive rustle,
moving straight toward the stairway. For this, needless to say, was not
the moment to speak that pointed word or two which should unmask the
man; there would be an unavoidable vulgarity about it here, in this
solitude. And even if she should get no further opportunity
upstairs--well, after all, the situation spoke for itself; nay,
thundered. Had not Hugo--come to think of it--struck the note of the
subtler victory, he who had given magnificently and said nothing?
_Noblesse oblige_, as the Gauls say....

"Oh, no, that's not necessary," she replied, walking on. "There are the
stairs...."

The young man fell in behind her.

"The old house is really quite bewildering, upstairs. It happened that
my office was the only place available. Perhaps you will let me
show you--"

"Oh, I don't think I need trouble you, thank you."

"It is no trouble," said V. Vivian.