"What about Mrs. Courteen?" questioned Mr. Ripple.
"She is in a swoon."
"You are sure he is quite dead?" asked Charles and wondered at the futility of the remark.
Nobody troubled to reply.
"Perhaps it would be better to send a waggon," said Clare. "We are not many miles from Roseland-in-the-Vale."
"Somebody has cut off his epaulettes," said Charles.
"Then it may have been footpads," said the Beau. "No wayfarer would rob the dead."
"It is a very dark night," said Clare simply.
"He fought at Fontenoy. Let us lift him out of the mud," said Mr. Ripple, vaguely recalling long stories which the dead soldier had poured into his ears.
"He gave his life for her. We must certainly lift him out of the mud," said Charles.