"God be thanked!" he said in his deep growl of joy. "God be thanked!"
When Marco put forth his hand, he bent his grizzled head and kissed it devoutly.
"God be thanked!" he said again.
"My father?" Marco began, "my father is out?" If he had been in the house, he knew he would not have stayed in the back sitting-room.
"Sir," said Lazarus, "will you come with me into his room? You, too, sir," to The Rat. He had never said "sir" to him before.
He opened the door of the familiar room, and the boys entered. The room was empty.
Marco did not speak; neither did The Rat. They both stood still in the middle of the shabby carpet and looked up at the old soldier. Both had suddenly the same feeling that the earth had dropped from beneath their feet. Lazarus saw it and spoke fast and with tremor. He was almost as agitated as they were.
"He left me at your service—at your command"—he began.
"Left you?" said Marco.
"He left us, all three, under orders—to WAIT," said Lazarus. "The Master has gone."