At the moment of speaking

Had Banneker but known it, this was rather high. The Brashear rooming-house charged for its cleanliness, physical and moral. "Can I move in at once?" he inquired. "I don't know you nor anything about you, Mr. Banneker," she replied, but not until they had descended the stairs and were in the cool, dim parlor. At the moment of speaking, she raised a shade, as if to help in the determination. "Is that necessary? They didn't ask me when I registered at the hotel." Mrs. Brashear stared, then smiled. "A hotel is different. Where are you stopping?" "At the St. Denis." "A very nice place. Who directed you here?" "No one. I strolled around until I found a street I liked, and looked around until I found a house I liked. The card in the window--" "Of course. Well, Mr. Banneker, for the protection of the house I must have references." "References? You mean letters from people?" "Not necessarily. Just a name or two from whom I can make inquiries. You have friends, I suppose." "No." "Your family--" "I haven't any." "Then the people in the place where you work. What is your business, by the way?" "I expect to go on a newspaper." "Expect?" Mrs. Brashear stiffened in defense of the institution. "You have no place yet?" He answered not her question, but her doubt. "As far as that is concerned, I'll pay in advance."