Here he ceased and stood up, and we also stood up and bent our heads. He lifted his hand simply, and said "God keep you."
Then he disappeared in the same way in which he had appeared, but much more quickly.
It was still quite dark in our quarters although the day may have been beginning to break, and after exchanging a few hopeful words we tried to sleep. Strange to say I slept soundly, and I did not awake until it was full daylight.
When the appointed hour came I wrung Jack's hand in silence, and went to meet Signor Davelli. I reached the place of meeting only a few minutes too soon, and presently I saw him coming.
I knew that this was the hour of destiny for me, and I remember thinking that a man does not always know the hour of destiny when it comes, and that it would be better for him if he did. Then, of a sudden, it struck me that such reflection indicated a coolness that was hardly native to me, and, was it a good sign or a bad? I thought it was good, and yet that it was overdone. And I remembered to have read, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
Just then Davelli came up, and I silently committed myself to God and awaited his onset. It came without
