"Good luck, my knight-errant, good luck--and come back to me soon!" She smiled divinely, as it seemed to me, as she said these last words, and the same smile followed me down stairs: for she leaned over the stair-head with one of the lamps in her hand, and directed me how to draw the bolts.

I took one backward glance as I did so at the fair stooping figure above me, the shining eyes, and tiny outstretched hand, and then darting into the gloom I hurried on my way.
I was in a strange mood.

A few minutes before I had been at Pavannes' door, at the end of our journey; on the verge of success.

I had been within an ace, as I supposed at least, of executing my errand.

I had held the cup of success in my hand.