"Come!" said Durand peremptorily, and as Chauvenet hesitated, Durand
seized him by the arm and pulled him toward the door.
As they mounted and turned to go they saw Claiborne standing at the
table, lighting a cigarette from one of the candles. He walked to the
veranda and listened until he was satisfied that they had gone; then went
in and closed the door. He picked up the cloak and sword and restored the
insignia to the silver box. The sword he examined with professional
interest, running his hand over the embossed scabbard, then drawing the
bright blade and trying its balance and weight.
As he held it thus, heavy steps sounded at the rear of the house, a door
was flung open and Armitage sprang into the room with Oscar close at his
heels.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE VERGE OF MORNING
O to mount again where erst I haunted;
Where the old red hills are bird-enchanted,
And the low green meadows
Bright with sward;
And when even dies, the million-tinted,
And the night has come, and planets glinted,
Lo! the valley hollow,
Lamp-bestarr'd.
--R.L.
Pages:
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307