is fair you should know," he said. "When
Harry went away to redeem his honour, if the opportunity should come, he
had no hope, indeed he had no wish, that Miss Eustace should wait for
him. She was the spur to urge him, but she did not know even that. He
did not wish her to know. He had no claim upon her. There was not even a
hope in his mind that she might at some time be his friend--in this
life, at all events. When he went away from Ramelton, he parted from
her, according to his thought, for all his mortal life. It is fair that
you should know that. Miss Eustace, you tell me, is not the woman to
withdraw from her pledged word. Well, what I said to you that evening
at the club I now repeat. There will be no disloyalty to friendship if
you marry Miss Eustace."

It was a difficult speech for Lieutenant Sutch to utter, and he was very
glad when he had uttered it. Whatever answer he received, it was right
that the words should be spoken, and he knew that, had he refrained from
speech, he would always have suffered remorse for his silence. None the
less, however, he waited in suspense for the answer.

"It is kind of you to tell me that," said Durrance, and he smiled at the
lieutenant with a great friendliness. "For I can guess what the words
cost you. But you have done Harry Feversham no harm by speaking them.
For, as I told you, Ethne has not forgotten him; and I have my point of
view. Marriage between a man blind like myself and any woman, let alone
Ethne, could not be fair or right unless upon both sides there was more
than friendship. Harry must return to England. He must return to Ethne,
too. You must go to Egypt and do what you can to bring him back."

Sutch was relieved of his suspense. He had obeyed his conscience and yet
done Harry Feversham no disservice.

"I will start to-morrow," he said. "Harry is still in the Soudan?"

"Of course."

"Why of course?" asked Sutch. "Willoughby withdrew his accusation;
Castleton is dead--he was killed at Tamai; and Trench--I know, for I
have followed all these three men's careers--Trench is a prisoner in
Omdurman."

"So is Harry Feversham."

Sutch stared at his visitor. For a moment he did not understand, the
shock had been too sudden and abrupt. Then after comprehension dawned
upon him, he refused to believe. The folly of that refusal in its turn
became apparent. He sat down in his chair opposite to Durrance, awed
into silence. And the silence lasted for a long while.