It fascinated Hannay, and time rolled on without her noticing it.

The night was so beautiful, so still, so placid, and it felt so comfortable outside on this terrace, whereon the moon shone so brightly, that Hannay sat and sat, listened and talked, until she had forgotten the young folk at home.
Suddenly a dark shadow covered the roof; the change was so abrupt that everybody looked around.

What a moment ago was plunged in the silvery bath of the moon's rays was now wrapped in transparent darkness.

But the valley below and the slope in front were as softly radiant as before.
The moon had disappeared behind one of the cliffs, and the shadow of the rocks was now cast over the houses of the Eagle.

It reminded the talkers that it was late, and it also reminded Hannay of her visitor.