They were in darkness and the silence might almost be felt.

As Julian said, they were safe from trickery, and, as Valentine rejoined in his calm _voix d'or_, they were therefore probably also safe from what Marr had mysteriously called "manifestations." Dead, dumb silence.

Their four hands, not touching, lay loosely on the oval table.

Rip slept unutterably, shrouded head and body in his cosy rug.

So--till the last gleam of the fire faded.