The broad high road stretched ahead, empty and deserted, in the brilliant noon sunshine, as far as eye could see.
The car leapt at the road like a live thing—
At last, the familiar, white-painted signpost, the Paradise-Hades post, flashed into view on the left of the road.
It was then, and not until then, that the King slowed down the car.
A great wave of relief, which told him how tense his anxiety had been, swept over him.
He looked at his watch.
It was some minutes past noon now.
Already, behind him, in the town, the storm had broken. Already the blow had fallen.
But this was Paradise.
He had escaped.