"I am going to try." Then the conscience of the ambassador nudged his memory. After all, he was here for another and a specific purpose, and it behooved him to remember it. "If I succeed, will you have a different answer to send to Philip?" he asked, with a searching look.
She clasped her hands together upon her breast with the self-forgetful gesture he had noticed before, and her face was suddenly radiant. "Oh, yes, yes!" she cried.
Very curiously, her eagerness made Burton conscious of a sudden coolness toward his mission. Of course he ought to rejoice at this assurance that she was really fond of Philip and that nothing kept them apart but her sensitive pride, and he had sense enough to recognize that he was going to be ashamed of his divided feeling when he had time to think it over. But in the meantime the divided feeling was certainly there, with its curious commentary on our aboriginal instincts. He smiled a little grimly at himself, as he answered.
"Thank you! I hope that I may claim that promise from you very soon. I shall certainly do my best to have a right to remind you of it. Now I am going to say good night and walk ostentatiously away. That is a part of the game. You can leave the front door unlocked, and I'll let myself in when I think the coast is all clear. The door bolts, I see. And I'll find my way to the surgery all right."
"There is always a light in the hall."
"Then it will be plain sailing. Good night. And be sure to keep Mrs. Bussey out of the way while I am breaking in."
She laughed, as though he jested. But as he walked back to the hotel to make some necessary arrangements for his night's camping, he hoped she would not wholly disregard that injunction.
[CHAPTER VI]
A MIDNIGHT WATCH
Half an hour later Burton returned--most unostentatiously. In fact, he made himself think of a beginner in burglary as he hugged the shadowy side of the street and sought the shelter of the trees in getting across the garden. If one were going to do this sort of thing, one might as well do it in proper style. The front door yielded noiselessly to his touch, illustrating the advantage of having an accomplice within, and he was safely inside. He bolted the door and made his way through the dimly lit hall to the surgery. The whole entry had occupied less than a minute. He was breathing quickly, but it was from excitement. It was years since he had been in any sort of an adventure. He felt like a college boy again.