"Perhaps you will understand," he had said, and Howland strove to understand, until his brain grew dizzy and a nauseous sickness overcame him.
The first light of the day was falling faintly through the window when footsteps sounded outside the door again.

It was not Croisset who appeared this time, but the proprietor himself, bearing with him a tray on which there was toast and a steaming pot of coffee.

He nodded and smiled as he saw Howland half sitting up.
"Bad fall you had," he greeted, drawing a small table close beside the bed.

"This snow is treacherous when you're climbing among the rocks.
When it caves in with you on the side of a mountain you might as well make up your mind you're going to get a good bump.

Good thing Croisset was with you!" For a few moments Howland was speechless.
"Yes--it--was--a--bad--fall," he replied at last, looking sharply at the other.