He was still filled with the hush of his loved one's serene calm.
Surely, after all, there must be some truth in her beliefs, and he would trust to them, too, and wait and hope--and above all keep his word, as she had said, with that honor which is entailed upon a gentleman.
He ordered his motor for dawn the next morning, so as to be away before the chance of disturbing the two should occur.
The rare and wonderful sight of a motor in those days caused a crowd to collect whenever one should arrive or depart.

It was an unheard-of thing that two should visit the city at the same time--there had only been three in the whole year--so Halcyone, when she heard the whizz next morning, bounded from her bed and rushed to peep between the green shutters.

Some instinct told her that the noise indicated it was he--her dear lover--about to start, and she had the happiness of gazing down upon his upturned face unperceived, as his eyes searched the windows, perhaps in some vague hope of being able to discern which was hers.
And she showered upon him blessings of love and tenderness, and called all the currents of good from the sky and the air, to comfort and protect him and give him strength to go back and keep his word.

And, just as he was starting, a white pigeon flew down and circled round John Derringham's head--and he was conscious that at the same moment the sun must have risen above the horizon, for it suddenly gilded the highest towers.

And he passed out of the dark gate into its glory, and took the Siena road, a mighty purpose of strength in his heart.
After a few days of wandering, during which he strove not to let grief or depression master him again, he sent a telegram to Venice to Cecilia Cricklander.