“That’s all right,” Davenant rejoined; and no more was said till they reached Rodney Temple’s door.

“Good-by.”  Ashley offered his hand.  “Good-by.  You’re a first-rate sort.  You deserve everything you’re—­you’re coming in for.”

Davenant could only wring the proffered hand wonderingly and continue on his way.

Inside the house Ashley asked only for Drusilla.  When she came to the drawing-room he refused to sit down.  He explained his hurry, on the ground that he was on his way to Boston to take the earliest possible train for New York.

“Oh yes.  That’s it,” he said, in answer to her dumb looks of inquiry.  “It couldn’t go on, you see.  You must have known it—­in spite of what you told me last night.  You’ve been an out-and-out good pal.  You’ve cheered me up more than a bit all the time I’ve been here.  If it hadn’t been for you—­Oh yes, I’m hit; but not hit so hard that I can’t still go on fighting—­”

“Not in the Carral country, I hope.”

“N-no.  On second thoughts that would be only running away.  I’m not going to run away.  Wounds as bad as mine have healed with a bit of nursing, and—­Well, good-by.  Say good-by to your father and mother for me, will you?—­especially to your governor.  Rum old chap, but sound—­sound as—­as Shakespeare and the Bible.  Good-by once more.  Meet again some time.”

It was at the door, to which she accompanied him, that he said:  “By the way, when are you coming home?”

She called all her dignity to her aid in order to reply lightly:  “Oh, I don’t know.  Not for ages and ages.  Perhaps not at all.  I may stay permanently over here.  I don’t know.”

“Oh, I say—­”

“In any case I’m here for the winter.”

“Oh, but I say, by Jove!  That’s forever.  You’ll be back before spring?”

She weakened in spite of herself.  “I couldn’t possibly leave till after Christmas.”

“Christmas!  It’s the end of November now.  Well, that’s not so bad.  Expect to be in Southsea some time early in the new year.  See you then.”

He had gone down the steps when he turned again.  Drusilla was still standing in the open doorway.

“It’s awfully queer, but I feel as if—­you’ll laugh, I know—­but I feel as if I’d been kept from the commission of a crime.  Funny, isn’t it?  Well, I’ll be off.  See you in Southsea not later than the middle of January.  Good-by again; and don’t forget my message to your governor.”

XXV

It was late in the afternoon when Davenant reappeared at Tory Hill, having tramped the streets during most of the time since leaving Ashley in the morning.  He was nervous.  He was even alarmed.  He had little clue to Olivia’s judgment on his visit to the Marquise, and he found Ashley’s hints mysterious.

It was reassuring, therefore, to have her welcome him with gentle cordiality into the little oval sitting-room, where he found her at her desk.  She made him take the most comfortable seat, while she herself turned partially round, her arm stretched along the back of her chair.  Though the room was growing dim, there was still a crimson light from the sunset.