Haldane seemed to have a difficulty in speaking. When he did, “His lordship will see her,” he said, looking not at her but at me. “He considers it to be his duty to do so, if the lady desires it. But I am ordered to say that she must draw no hope from the fact, Major Craven. I am instructed to impress upon her that an interview can do no good. If after that she still desires to see his lordship—” Constantia bowed her head. “You understand, Madam?” Haldane persisted. “You still desire it—in face of what I have said?” She bent her head again. He turned on his heel, opened the door behind him and signed to her to enter the room. Then he closed the door upon her. By common consent we moved away and went outside. “Poor beggar!” Haldane muttered. “I wouldn’t be in his shoes at this moment for all his pay and appointments. Hanged if I would!” Then, “Curse the war, I say!” “I say the same!” Paton replied, and twitching the other’s sleeve he drew him aside. They encountered and turned back some men who were moving towards us—I have no doubt to learn what was on foot. I took my seat on the most remote bench on the left of the door, and apart from the crowd; and I waited. How long? I cannot say. I had no hope that the girl would succeed; I was in no suspense on that account. All my anxiety centered in another matter. When she came out she would have heard all from Rawdon. She would have learned the truth and my part in the story. Between them the facts must come out; they could not be hid. And then she would stand alone, quite alone in this strange camp, with four o’clock before her. How would she survive it? What would become of her? The sweat stood on my brow. I waited—waited, knowing that that must be the end of it. I felt that I should be aware of her knowledge as soon as I saw her. She would feel by instinct where I had placed myself, and she would turn the other way. Or perhaps she would look at me once, and the horror in her eyes would wither me. So far there had been a strange mingling of sweet and bitter in the confidence which she had placed in me, in the way in which she had turned to me, trusted me, leant on me. But when she came out, knowing all, there would be an end of that.