Halkett, looking around at them, said pleasantly:
"It was a happy thought—this reunion. I had meant to say good-by tonight at the Château——"
"Tonight!" exclaimed Warner.
"Yes. Orders have come. An automobile arrives later, to take me to the railroad station at Dreslin. My wrecked machine has gone——" He looked smilingly at Sister Eila: "What's left of me is to follow tonight, it seems.... And so I shall go over to the Château, now, I think, and make my very grateful adieux, and have a last word with Gray. Shall I say good-by to you now? Will you be here when I return in an hour?"
Philippa said in a low voice:
"We are going to walk in the garden. Look for us there."
He turned to Sister Eila.
"I shall be with my sick man," she said smilingly. Her face was deadly white.
So Halkett took his cap and went away up the road all alone, and Sister Eila mounted the stairs to inspect her patient.
As Warner stood for a moment by the open door looking after Halkett, a familiar voice came to his ears—the voice of Asticot, bragging of his prowess and cheerfully predicting even greater glory for himself.