In reply Gaunt took his wife’s letter from his pocket.
“Read that, and if you are a man you will understand.”
And Drake knew that it was hopeless to make another effort at reconciliation. But that night was a very miserable one for all three of them. Each was thinking of the woman that he loved, and remembering that in the morning they sailed upon a desperate adventure from which they might never return.
Passages had been booked under fictitious names, and they went aboard the Saxon just before sailing time. However, there was considerable delay, and they knew no peace until the last rope had been thrown ashore.
And then Gaunt turned to Drake.
“We have started for good or ill,” he said with unwonted solemnity.
“It is for good, and God is with us,” Edward Drake answered reverently.
And then he gave a cry.
“There is a motor-car with two ladies.”
Gaunt strained his eyes towards the shore and his face became very white when he recognized his wife. He did not move his eyes from the place where Lady Mildred stood, but his face did not soften. The liner cleared the point, and began to travel more quickly, so that in a very few minutes the wharf disappeared from view.