“But read—read!” implored Lucille; and he made an effort to do so. Then a rush of colour came, and he looked at Lucille, a strange gleam in his eyes.
“This!—What does it mean?”
“It means that you are free! Free to go home.”
From the others broke a chorus of exclamations.
“Buonaparte’s signature! It must be all right!” Ivor spoke in a bewildered tone. “But what can have made him choose me? Why not Colonel Baron?”
“Are you not glad?”
“Glad!” The word was too absurdly inadequate. He walked across to Colonel Baron. “Will you read this, sir? Tell me if I understand it rightly.”
Colonel Baron complied, then passed the papers on to his wife and Jack, while he grasped Ivor’s hand.
“I congratulate you with all my heart,” he said. “Nothing could have given me greater delight. For your sake, not for ours.”
“But to leave you all here still——”