'Not necessarily,' he replied coolly. 'It may mean that; or, at least, it may mean that I am summoned away at such short notice that there will be no opportunity of coming again. Personally, I should prefer it to be so. The pastime of saying good-bye may possess a certain sentimental value, but it is a weakness which is best avoided.'
Mrs. Wylie continued to watch the young man's face with speculative criticism. It is just possible that she suspected him of talking nonsense, as it were, against time or against himself.
'Is your information of a general description, or have you certain advice that war is imminent?'
Trist smiled almost apologetically as he replied, with caution:
'I have reason to believe that there will be a big war before the summer.'
'Turkey and Russia, of course?'
'Yes.'
'And you go with Turkey, I suppose?'
'Yes.'
'The losing side again?' inquired Mrs. Wylie diplomatically.