window in front of which he stood. [Pg 52] But for the instant his face simply had not seemed his own. Its color had been gone—indeed it had seemed absolutely bloodless. His eyes had been vivid holes in his white face, his features were drawn out of all semblance to his own, the facial lines were graven deep. His lips looked loose, as with one whose muscle-control is breaking. But my impression had only an instant’s life. Either the man drew himself together at my stare, or my own vision got back to normal. He was himself again—the same, suave, genial sportsman I had seen dismount from the car. He answered my inquiry, and I turned through the library door. If I had seen true, there could be but one explanation: that Major Dell had undergone some violent nervous shock since he had entered the door of the manor house of Kastle Krags. [Pg 53] [Pg 53] CHAPTER VII After the dinner hour Nealman came for me, in the room just off the hall from his own that he had designated for my use. I’d never seen him in quite so gay a humor. His eyes sparkled; happiness rippled in his voice. His tone was more companionable too, lacking that faint but unmistakable air of patronage it had always previously held. He had never forgotten, until now, that he was the employer, I the employee. Now his accent and manner was one of equality, and he addressed me much as he had addressed his wealthy guests. He had been drinking; but he was not in the least intoxicated. Perhaps he had been stimulated, very slightly. He wore a dinner coat with white trousers. “Killdare, I want you to come downstairs,” he said. “Some of my friends want to talk to you about shootin’ and fishin’. They’re keen to know what their prospects are.” “I’d like to,” I answered. “But I’ll have to come as I am. I haven’t a dinner coat——” [Pg 54] [Pg 54]
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