I refused to entertain the possibility
of not finding him at the inn. I swore to heaven that the nuptials of
the Princess Hildegarde of Hohenphalia and the Prince Ernst of
Wortumborg should not be celebrated at noon, Thursday. I went into the
bedroom.
"Pembroke?"
"What is it?" came drowsily.
"I am going on a journey."
"One of those cursed orders you get every other day?" he asked.
"No. It's one on my own account this time. I shall be back in
twenty-four hours. Goodby!" And I left him there, blinking in the dim
light of the candle.
I rushed into the street and looked up and down it. Not a vehicle in
sight. I must run for it. The railway station was a long way off. A
fine snow pelted my face. I stopped at the first lamp and pulled out
my watch. It was twenty minutes to three. What if the time-tables had
been changed? A prayer rose to my lips; there was so much in the
balance. Down this street I ran, rounding this corner and that. I
knocked down a drunken student, who cursed me as he rolled into the
gutter. I never turned, but kept on. One of the mounted police saw me
rushing along.
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