We ran out, and called to him.
"Old fellow," said Desmond, "willing or not, I have come."
Ben's face was a study; so many emotions assailed him that my heart was wrung with pity.
"Give her to me," Desmond continued in a touching voice. "You are her oldest friend, and have a right."
"She was always yours," he answered. "To contend with her was folly."
Veronica took hold of Ben's chin and raised his head to look into his face. "What dreams have you had?"
But he made no reply to her. We were all silent for a moment, then he said, "Was I wrong, Des.?"
"No, no."
While, I was saying to myself, in behalf of Veronica, whose calm face baffled me, "Enigma, Sphinx"; she turned to Desmond, holding out her right arm, and said, "You are the man I saw in my dream."
"And you are like the Virgin I made an offering to, only not quite so bedizened." He took her extended hand and kissed it.