"Oh, nothing," said Brooke; "dog Latin—some rubbish from Horace. Allow me, however, to remark, that all this talk about death seems to me to be cursed bad taste."
After this he began to whistle a tune.
Suddenly he held up his hand so as to display the ring.
"Who gave you this?" he asked, carelessly.
"Mr. Rivers," said Talbot, simply. "It was our engagement ring."
Brooke gave his usual short laugh, and subsided into silence.
CHAPTER XXIV. — IN WHICH BROOKE AND TALBOT STAND FACE TO FACE WITH DEATH.
This was to be to Brooke his last day in life. The thought of this was ever present to both of them. The band would probably return during the night, and in the morning the last scene would be enacted.