She leaned against one of the merlons of the embattled parapet, her eyes on the spot where he should emerge from the stairs, and thus she waited, her eyes haggard, her face drawn.
He came at last, lurching in his walk, being overstiff from his long ride.

She took a step forward to meet him.

Her lips parted.
"Well ?" she asked him, and her voice sounded harsh and strained.

"How has the venture sped ?" "The only way it could," he answered.

"As you would wish it." At that she thought that she must faint.