Leduc, who stood slightly behind him, fussily, busy about a little table on which were books and cordials, flowers and comfits, a pipe and a tobacco-jar, had just informed him for the first time that during the more dangerous period of his illness Mistress Winthrop had watched by his bedside for many hours together upon many occasions, and once--on the day after he had been wounded, and while his fever was at its height--Leduc, entering suddenly and quietly, had surprised her in tears.
All this was most sweet news to Mr.Caryll.He found that between himself and his half-brother there lay an even deeper debt than he had at first supposed, and already acknowledged.

In the delicious contemplation of Hortensia in tears beside him stricken all but to the point of death, he forgot entirely his erstwhile scruples that being nameless he had no name to offer her.

In imagination he conjured up the scene.

It made, he found, a very pretty picture.

He would smoke upon it.
"Leduc, if you were to fill me a pipe of Spanish--" "Monsieur has smoked one pipe already," Leduc reminded him.
"You are inconsequent, Leduc.