He saw that it was dangerous to throw my father off the track.

And, indeed, this was proven at once, for my unfortunate interruption set my father's mind to wandering, till finally I had to drop certain drops of the red liquid on his tongue.

These, indeed, had a marvellous effect upon him.

He sat up instantly, his eyes flashing the old light, and began to speak rapidly and to clear purport, even as he used to do in the old days when Duke Casimir would come striding across the yard at all hours of the night and day to consult his Justicer.
"What was I telling ?" he went on.

"Yes, I remember, of the home-coming of Helene under honorable escort.