She hesitated what to do, when he made what seemed
to her a threatening gesture, and walked quickly away down the street.
CHAPTER VII
THE LADY OF THE FEATHERS BUCKLES ON HER ARMOUR
That evening Cuckoo remained in a condition of mingled terror and
resolution. There was something about Valentine that filled her, not
merely with alarm, but with a nameless horror, indescribable and
inveterate. She felt that he was her deadly enemy and the enemy of
Julian. But he had cast such a spell over Julian that the latter was
blinded and ready to follow him anywhere, and not merely to follow him,
but to defend every step he took. Cuckoo had a sense of entering upon a
combat with Valentine. As she stood upon the doorstep in Harley Street
and faced him under the gas-lamp, were they not as antagonists definitely
crossing swords for the first time? It seemed so to her. And the
impression upon her was so strong and so exciting, that for once she
broke through her invariable routine. Instead of going to Piccadilly she
went home to her lodgings. It was about half-past nine when she arrived
and opened the door with her latchkey. Mrs. Brigg happened to be in the
passage _en route_ to the kitchen from some business in the upper
regions.
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