"To all effects and purposes, I am in another room. When I move
to the door, as I shall do directly, I shall drag the screen with
me. I can promise you--"
"Please explain everything," she begged, "quickly. I am most
-- uncomfortable."
"At half-past twelve this morning," Tavernake said, "I found
myself alone in a taxicab with you, without any luggage or any
idea where to go to. To make matters worse, you fainted. I
tried two hotels but they refused to take you in; they were
probably afraid that you were going to be ill. Then I thought of
this room. I am employed, as you know, by a firm of estate
agents. I do a great deal of work on my own account, however,
which I prefer to do in secret, and unknown to any one. For that
reason, I hired this room a year ago and I come here most
evenings to work. Sometimes I stay late, so last month I bought
a small bedstead and had it fixed up here. There is a woman who
comes in to clean the room. I went to her house last night and
persuaded her to come here. She undressed you and put you to
bed. I am sorry that my presence here distresses you, but it is
a large building and quite empty at night-time. I thought you
might wake up and be frightened, so I borrowed this screen from
the woman and have been sitting here."
"What, all night?" she gasped.
"Certainly," he answered. "The woman could not stop herself and
this is not a residential building at all. All the lower floors
are let for offices and warehouses, and there is no one else in
the place until eight o'clock.
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