This reduced him to utter speechlessness. Mutely he helped me to don the cloak over my thin evening dress. I slipped the tin box and the key into the pockets. As I stepped out once more into the night, my landlord found his speech. "When will you be back, sir?" The question startled me for a moment; for a second or two I hesitated. "I asked because you have no latch-key, as I suppose you left it in your other coat. So that--" "It does not matter," I answered. "Do not sit up. I shall not be back before morning;" and with that I left him still standing at the door, and listening to my footsteps as they hurried down the street. "Before morning!" Before morning I should be in another world, if there were another world. And then it struck me that Claire and I might meet. She had taken her own life and so should I. But no, no--Heaven would forgive her that; it could not condemn my saint to the pit where I should lie: it could not be so kindly cruel; and then I laughed a loud and bitter laugh. Still in my dull stupor I found myself nearing the river. I have not mentioned it before, but I must explain now, that during the summer I had purchased a boat, in which my Claire and I were used to row idly between Streatley and Pangbourne, or whithersoever love guided our oars. This boat, with the approach of winter, I had caused to be brought down the river and had housed in a waterman's shed just above Westminster, until the return of spring should bring back once more the happy days of its employment. In my heart I blessed the chance that had stored it ready to my hand. Stumbling through dark and tortuous streets where the moon's frosty brilliance was almost completely hidden, I came at last to the waterman's door and knocked. He was in bed and for some time my summons was in vain. At last I heard a sound in the room above, the window was let down and a sulky voice said, "Who's there?" "Is that you, Bagnell?" I answered. "Come down. It is I, Mr. Trenoweth, and I want you." There was a low cursing, a long pause broken by a muttered dispute upstairs, and then the street door opened and Bagnell appeared with a lantern. "Bagnell, I want my boat." "To-night, sir? And at this hour?" "Yes, to-night. I want it particularly." "But it is put away behind a dozen others, and can't be got." "Never mind. I will help if you want assistance, but I must have it." Bagnell looked at me for a minute and I could see that he was cursing under his breath. "Is it serious, sir? You're not--" "I am not drunk, if that is what you mean, but perfectly serious, and I must have my boat." "Won't another do as well?" "No, it will not." I felt in my pockets and found two sovereigns and a few shillings. "Look here," I said, "I will give you two pounds if you get this boat out for me."