At any moment Sabina might appear, yet he dared not even go to her
door, lest the two men should follow him.
But at least he could prevent her from coming in, for he could lock
the entrance to the small room. As he reached the end of his walk he
turned the key and put it into his pocket. The detective turned round
sharply and Volterra moved his head at the sound.
"Why do you do that?" he asked, in a tone of annoyance.
"Because no one shall go in, while I have the key," Malipieri
answered.
"I must go in, sooner or later," said the detective, "I can wait all
day, and all night, if you please, for I shall not use force where a
lady is concerned. But I must see that room."
Like all such men, he was obstinate, when he believed that he was
doing his duty. Malipieri looked from him to Volterra, and back again,
and suddenly made up his mind. He preferred the detective, of the two,
if he must trust any one, the more so as the latter probably did not
know Sabina by sight.
"If you will be so kind as to stay there, in that armchair," he said
to Volterra, "I will see what I can do to hasten matters. Will you?"
"Certainly. I am very comfortable here." The Baron laughed a little.
"Then," said Malipieri, turning to the detective, "kindly come with
me, and I will explain as far as I can.
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