They held to each other rigidly for an instant, her face against his sleeve, in an agony which no tears came to soothe.
"There!" said Barclay presently. "I'm better already. It does one good to blow off steam, now and again."
His tone lightened perceptibly.
"And look here," he added, "what's most important, after all, is that I have news for you, and ought to be delivering it."
As yet, they did not dare to meet each other's eyes, but Natalie took the cue.
"You can spare yourself the trouble, my lord," she retorted, sweeping him a curtsy. "I can guess what it is, without your aid. You've found him!"
"How did you know?"
"I didn't. But you will remember that I asked you to find him. The inference is as plain as a pikestaff."
"Arrogance! But you're right. I have. He has been at my rooms since last night. He was frightfully shaky, and utterly despondent, but he's taking something to settle his nerves, and I've no doubt a week or so of good food and straight living will bring him around into something like his old form."
"Boy dear! And you're taking care of him?"