"That dream is over!"
"And I tell you Happiness is awaiting you--will come seeking you very
soon, I feel sure."
"How should you know this?"
"You may have heard, Anthony, that people in such a position as
mine--people who are facing the possibility of speedy dissolution, are
sometimes gifted with a clearer vision--an intuition--call it what you
will. However, I repeat my assurance that Happiness is awaiting you,
coming to you with arms outstretched, if you will but have faith and
patience--a happiness greater, fuller, richer than you have ever
known."
At this, he turned to scowl out of the window again and I out of mine,
and thus we came to an end of the rutted by-lanes we had been
traversing and turned into the smoother going of the main road.
We had gone but a mile, as I judge, when, borne to our ears came the
faint, rhythmic beat of fast-galloping hoofs growing momentarily
louder.
"Someone in the devil's own hurry!" exclaimed Anthony, letting down
his window. "No man would gallop his horse so without reason!
Hark--hark, he must be riding like a madman--and in this fog! What the
devil? Nobody to lay us by the heels--eh, Perry?"
"God forbid!" I exclaimed fervently, as Anthony leaned from the
window.
"Nothing to see--mist too thick!" said he. "But road's dooced narrow
hereabouts, yet hark--hark how the fellow rides!" And indeed it seemed
to me that there was something terrible in the relentless beat of
these wildly galloping hoofs that were coming up with us so rapidly.
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