I had not seen Augustus, as I had come straight from a room near McGreggor's, where I had spent the night. As I was leaving the dining-room I went towards the staircase, but Antony stopped me.
"Do not go up," he said. "Leave him to himself. The doctor is with him, and when he has completely recovered he will probably be penitent. He has only just escaped delirium tremens, and will most likely be in bed for a day or two. Promise me that you will not go near his room or I will stay and look after you myself."
Oh, the kindness in his voice!
"Yes, I promise," I said, meekly.
"Then I will say good-bye, Comtesse, until we meet at Dane Mount on the 4th of November."
"Good-bye," I faltered, and we shook hands calmly before the rest of the company standing about the hall.
But when the tuff-tuff-tuff of his automobile subsided in the distance, I felt as if all things were dead.
The evening post brought an invitation from the Duke of Myrlshire, asking us to go and stay with him for a small shoot on the 30th of October.
Augustus sent for me.
As I had promised, I had not been near him until this moment.