Then, before they could realize that he was actually amongst them, he was there. They heard only a crashing of boughs, the parting of the hedge. He was there on his knees, with his arms around the terrified woman who had sobbed out his name. Louise, too, swayed upon her feet, her fascinated eyes fixed upon the newcomer. Wrayson understood, then, that in some way this man had indeed come back from the dead. [Illustration: "HE WAS THERE ON HIS KNEES, WITH HIS ARMS AROUND THE TERRIFIED WOMAN"] CHAPTER XXXI RETURNED FROM THE TOMB The intervention which a few seconds later abruptly terminated an emotional crisis was in itself a very commonplace one. Monsieur the proprietor deemed the moment advisable for solving a question which was beginning to distract his better half in the kitchen. He advanced towards them, all smiles and bows and gestures. "Monsieur would pardon his inquiring--would Monsieur and the ladies be taking _dejeuner?_ A fowl of excellence unusual was then being roasted, the salad--Monsieur could see it growing! And Madame had thought of an omelet! There was no cooler place in all France on a day of heat so extraordinary as the table under the trees yonder. And as for strawberries--well, Monsieur could see them grow for himself! or if it was _fraises de Bois_ that Madame preferred, the children had brought in baskets full only that morning, fresh and juicy, and of a wonderful size." Wrayson interrupted him at last. "Let luncheon be served as you suggest," he directed. "In the meantime--" Monsieur Jules understood and withdrew with more bows and smiles. The significance of his brief appearance upon the lawn was a thing of which he had not the least idea. Yet after his departure, the strain to a certain extent had passed away. Only Madame de Melbain's eyes seemed scarcely to leave the face of the man who stood still by her chair. "Alive!" she murmured, grasping his hand in hers. "You alive!" Louise had taken his other hand. He was imprisoned between the two. "Yes!" he said, "I made what they called a wonderful recovery. I suppose it was almost a miracle." "But your death," Louise declared, "was never contradicted." "A good deal of news went astray about that time," he remarked grimly. "I was left, and forgotten. When I found what had been done, I let it go. It seemed to me to be better. I went up to Rhodesia, and of course I had the devil's luck. I've come back to Europe simply because I couldn't stand it any longer. I was not coming to England, and I had no idea of seeing you, Emilie! I travelled here on a little pilgrimage." "It was fate," she murmured. "But since I am here," he continued, "and since we have met again, I must ask you this. Your husband is trying to divorce you?" "Yes!" she murmured. "And why?" "Because he is a brute," she answered quietly. "We have been separated for more than a year. I think that he wants to marry again." "And you permit this?" he asked.