The quick flash seemed to light up the young man's soul from within, and to reveal it, naked, to his friend.
It was all over in a moment, and Armand thought that mayhap his conscience had played him a trick: there was nothing apparent in him--of this he was sure--that could possibly divulge his secret just yet.
"I am rather late, I fear," he said.

"I wandered about the streets in the late afternoon and lost my way in the dark.

I hope I have not kept you all waiting." They all pulled chairs closely round the fire, except Blakeney, who preferred to stand.

He waited awhile until they were all comfortably settled, and all ready to listen, then: "It is about the Dauphin," he said abruptly without further preamble.
They understood.

All of them had guessed it, almost before the summons came that had brought them to Paris two days ago.