You see now why my thoughts have been running on a country house!" He went off laughing, and his friend sat down again by the fireside.
Half an hour passed.

The fire had burnt low, and the room was quite dark.

At length, Hilliard bestirred himself.

He lit the lamp, drew down the blind, and seated himself at the table to write.

With great rapidity he covered four sides of note-paper, and addressed an envelope.