But when the dawn came his thoughts reverted to his own affairs.

The message delivered to him in the forest of the River Dinder! It might mean nothing.

It was the part of prudence to make light of his hopes and conjectures.

But the hopes would not be stilled, now that he was alone.
This was the Summons, the great Summons for which, without his knowledge, the experiences of his life, detail by detail, had builded him..