They told him their story. He listened gravely, putting in a nod or a slow, heavy gesture now and again.
"I feared it," he remarked, when they had done. "When the Princess told me Lipniki had been bombarded I knew what that must mean for Ruvno. I was going to push on there this afternoon and get your news. As you're here, I'm back to Warsaw. I've distributed all my relief. There's room in my side-car for one. Which of you is coming?"
"Oh!" said the Countess, and looked at her boy.
"I've some peasant women," said he.
Healy laughed and shook his head.
"I can only take one, and a light one. I'm a heavy-weight and the road is awful."
"They can draw lots," said Ian. "The others will have to shift with us men."
He saw Healy was not over eager to take peasants, and determined he should. They were still discussing it when Vera Petrovna sent word by a nurse that the bathroom in the train was ready for them and that there would be a hasty dinner in half an hour.
The women hurried out. Healy offered Ian a cigarette and lighted one for himself. Then, in his pondering way, he began.
"Count, we've not seen each other as much as I'd like, but I believe we're friends."