Hector groped to all fours and caught a glimpse of Geri at the top of the wide, curving stairway that dominated the main hall of the house. Then the servant fell on him and tried to pin him down. He rolled over on top of the servant, broke loose from his clumsy grip, and got to his feet.
“I don’t want to hurt you!” he said shaldly, holding his hands out in what he hoped was a menacing position. Another pair of arms grappled at him from behind, but weakly. The old servant. Hector shrugged him off and took a few more steps into the house, his eyes still on the husky one, who was now crouched on the floor and looking up questioningly at Geri.
All she has to do is nod. Hector knew, and they’ll both jump me.
“I told you I never wanted to see you again!” she screamed at him. “Never!”
“I’ve got to talk to you,” he shouted back. “Just for five minutes…. Uh, alone.”
“I don’t … your nose is bleeding.”
He touched his upper lip with a finger. It came away red and sticky.
“Oh … the door … I must’ve banged it on the door.”
Geri took a few steps down the stairway, hesitated, then seemed to take a deep breath and came slowly down the rest of the way.
“It’s all right,” she said calmly to the servants. “You may leave.”
The brawny one looked uncertain. The old one piped, “But if he.. ..”
“I’ll be all right,” Geri insisted firmly. “You can stay in the next room, if you like. The lieutenant will only be here for five minutes. No longer,” she added, turning to Hector.
They withdrew reluctantly.
“You ruined my flowers,” she said to Hector. But softly, and the comers of her mouth looked as though they wanted to turn up. “And your nose is still bleeding.”