"For your sake?" he asked in an altered tone. "Do you mean it?"
"Very well. I will do it." He turned a little pale and closed one hand over the other.
"Thank you—thank you, Harry." Her voice lingered a little, as she pronounced his name. "Stay here. I will make them come. It is of no use to leave them there. It is a mere formality, at best."
"I am ready," said Brett, rising.
Marion left her seat, and crossing the room again tried the door in question to satisfy herself that it would open readily. She looked out into the passage beyond and then came back, and passing Brett without a word left the room.
She was not gone long, and during the minutes of her absence Brett tried hard not to think of what he was going to do. He could not but be aware that it was a desperately serious matter to help a convicted criminal to escape. He thought of the expression he had seen on Marion's face when he had promised to do it, and of the soft intonation of her sweet voice, and he tried to think of nothing else.
In a moment more she was in the room again leading old Mr. Darche forward, his arm linked in hers. John came in on his father's other side, while Vanbrugh and the three officers followed.
"I understand, I understand, my boy," cried old Darche in his cheery voice. "It is a grand thing."
John was very pale as he answered, and was evidently making a great effort to speak lightly.