He smiled, hut though there was pleasure, it was a

grave, sad smile. He spoke then: the voice was slow and very deep.

There was a delicate softness in it, the suave politeness of an older

day.

“Thank you,” he said; “I value it. It was given to me by my

grandfather. I forgot it when I—”

His voice grew indistinct a little.

“Yes?” said Tim.

“When I—left,” the old gentleman repeated.

“Oh,” said Tim, thinking how beautiful and kind the gracious figure

was.

The old man ran his slender fingers carefully along the cane,

feeling the polished surface with satisfaction. He lingered specially

over the smoothness of the ivory handle. He was evidently very

pleased.

“I was not quite myself—er—at the moment,” he went on gently; “my

memory failed me somewhat.” He sighed, as though an immense relief was

in him.

“I forget things, too—sometimes,” Tim mentioned sympathetically.

He simply loved his grandfather. He hoped—for a moment—he would he

lifted up and kissed. “I’m awfully glad I brought it,” he

faltered—”that you’ve got it again.”

The other turned his kind grey eyes upon him; the smile on his face

was full of gratitude as he looked down.

“Thank you, my boy. I am truly and deeply indebted to you. You

courted danger for my sake.

Others have tried before, but the Nightmare Passage—er—” He broke

off. He tapped the stick firmly on the stone flooring, as though to

test it. Bending a trifle, he put his weight upon it.

“Ah!” he

exclaimed with a short sigh of relief, “I can now—”

His voice again grew indistinct; Tim did not catch the words.

“Yes?” he asked again, aware for the first time that a touch of awe

was in his heart.

“—get about again,” the other continued very low. “Without my

cane,” he added, the voice failing with each word the old lips

uttered, “I could not … possibly … allow myself … to be

seen. It was indeed … deplorable … unpardonable of me … to

forget in such a way. Zounds, sir…! I—I …”

His voice sank away suddenly into a sound of wind. He straightened

up, tapping the iron ferrule of his cane on the stones in a series of

loud knocks. Tim felt a strange sensation creep into his legs.