They spoke not a word, but walked with their heads bent, as if deeply absorbed in searching for something on the ground.
Down to the gate they went, opened it and passed out, only half closing it behind them, so that I knew they meant presently to come back again.
I should have been thankful to escape, but the chance of meeting them was too imminent.

Accordingly I waited, and it was well I did, for as they reappeared in three or four minutes they could not have gone far enough to be out of sight from the gate.
"There's witchcraft in it," Maxine said, as she and her lover passed within a few yards of me, where I hid behind a little arbour.
Du Laurier's answer was lost to me, but his voice sounded despondent.
Evidently they had mislaid something of importance and had small hope of finding it again.

I could not help being curious, as well as sorry for Maxine that a further misfortune should have befallen her at such a time.

But the one and only way in which I could help her at the moment was to get away as soon as possible.
They had left the gate unlocked, and I drew in a long breath of relief when I was on the other side.

I hurried out of the street, lest du Laurier should, by any chance, follow on quickly: and my first thought was to go immediately back to my hotel, where Girard might by now have arrived with news.