"She overwhelms me with kindness."
"That is excellent," said he, as he shook hands with them and, against both their protests, took his leave.
He carried away that picture in his mind. He had left these two together, and they were happy. What mattered it to him what became of himself?
It was on the evening of that day that he had to obey the summons of the Council.
CHAPTER XL.
A CONCLAVE.
Punctual to the moment George Brand arrived in Lisle Street. He was shown into an inner room, where he found Lind seated at a desk, and Reitzei and Beratinsky standing by the fireplace. On an adjacent table where four cups of black coffee, four small glasses, a bottle of brandy, and a box of cigarettes.
Lind rose to receive him, and was very courteous indeed—apologizing for having had to break in on his preparations for leaving, and offering him coffee, cigarettes, and what not. When the new-comer had declined these, Lind resumed his place and begged the others to be seated.