They haven't been gone very long." He had gone.

The Rev.Samuel was left alone with the half-filled goblet of noxious wine in his hand.

For some moments he continued to stand in the same position, looking down into the crimson depth of liquid that lay, scintillating lazily, in the silver bowl.
At last he raised it to his lips and sipped it--once, twice, three times.

Then he waited.

"Wine to make glad the heart of man." The words came to his mind.