Raymond seemed to have sunk into a stupor, and at last Charles rose silently and went out.
He was dimly conscious of meeting some one in the passage, of answering some question in the negative, and then he found himself gathering up the reins, and driving through the narrow lighted streets of D---- in the dusk, and so away down the long flat high-road to Atherstone.
A white mist had risen up to meet the darkness, and had shrouded all the land.

In sweeps and curves along the fields a gleaming pallor lay of heavy dew upon the grass, and on the road the long lines of dim water in the ruts reflected the dim sky.
Carts lumbered past him in the darkness once or twice, the men in them peering back at his reckless driving; and once a carriage with lamps came swiftly up the road towards him, and passed him with a flash, grazing his wheel.

But he took no heed.

Drive as quickly as he would through mist and darkness, a voice followed him, the voice of a pursuing devil close at his ear, whispering in the halting, feeble utterance of a dying man: "Keep your own counsel about Dare.

There is no one to tell if you don't." Charles shivered and set his teeth.