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. The

queer words frightened him a little.

The old man took a step towards him. He still smiled, but there was

a new meaning in the smile. A sudden earnestness had replaced the

courtly, leisurely manner. The next words seemed to blow down upon the

boy from above, as though a cold wind brought them from the sky

outside.

Yet the words, he knew, were kindly meant, and very sensible. It

was only the abrupt change that startled him. Grandfather, after all,

was but a man! The distant sound recalled something in him to that

outside world from which the cold wind blew.

“My eternal thanks to you,” he heard, while the voice and face and

figure seemed to withdrew deeper and deeper into the heart of the

mighty chamber. “I shall not forget your kindness and your courage. It

is a debt I can, fortunately, one day repay … . But now you had

best return and with dispatch. For your head and arm lie heavily on

the table, the documents are scattered, there is a cushion fallen . .

.