"You have removed a great anxiety.

It would have been many days before I should have received this good news if you had not gone out of your way to hurry with it here." Hillyard was moved, partly by the message, partly by the consideration of Marnier, who now waved his thanks aside.
"Bah! We may not say 'comrade' as often as the Boche, but perhaps we are it all the more.

I will not come further with you towards your carriage, for I have still a few things to do." He shook Hillyard by the hand and departed.

Hillyard turned from him towards his sleeping-car, but though his chief anxiety was dispelled, his reluctance to go was not.

And he looked at the long, brightly-lit train which was to carry him from this busy and high-hearted city with a desire that it would start before its time, and leave him a derelict upon the platform.