Going over to the window, he looked out at the lights across the river.

How could this happen here, in his own house, among the things he loved?
What was it that reached in out of the darkness and thrilled him?
As he stood there he had a feeling that he would never escape.

He shut his eyes and pressed his forehead against the cold window glass, breathing in the chill that came through it.

"That this," he groaned, "that this should have happened to ME!" On New Year's day a thaw set in, and during the night torrents of rain fell.

In the morning, the morning of Alexander's departure for England, the river was streaked with fog and the rain drove hard against the windows of the breakfast-room.