As they went Hugh asked Dick what it was that he had in his mind as a mark for the arrow that Murgh had shot, that arrow which to his charmed sight had seemed to rush over Venice like a flake of fire.
"I'll not tell you, master," answered Dick, "lest you should think me madder than I am, which to-night would be very mad indeed.

Stay, though, I'll tell David here, that he may be a witness to my folly," and he called the young man to him and spoke with him apart.
Then they unlocked the courtyard gate and entered the house by the kitchen door, as it chanced quite unobserved, for now all the servants were abed.

Indeed, of that household none ever knew that they had been outside its walls this night, since no one saw them go or return, and Sir Geoffrey and his lady thought that they had retired to their chamber.
They came to the door of their room, David still with them, for the place where he slept was at the end of this same passage.
"Bide here a while," said Dick to him.

"My master and I may have a word to say to you presently." Then they lit tapers from a little Roman lamp that burned all night in the passage and entered the room.

Dick walked at once to the window-place, looked and laughed a little.
"The arrow has missed," he said, "or rather," he added doubtfully, "the target is gone." "What target ?" asked Hugh wearily, for now he desired sleep more than he had ever done in all his life.