this beyond the confines of life looking at a star. But the
thought: "They will think I dared not face them and committed
suicide," caused a revolt of his mind which carried him on. He
returned on board, as he had left, unheard and unseen. He lay in
his hammock utterly exhausted and with a confused feeling that he
had been beyond the confines of life, somewhere near a star, and
that it was very quiet there.



CHAPTER IX



Sheltered by the squat headland from the first morning sparkle of
the sea the little bay breathed a delicious freshness. The party
from the schooner landed at the bottom of the garden. They
exchanged insignificant words in studiously casual tones. The
professor's sister put up a long-handled eye-glass as if to scan
the novel surroundings, but in reality searching for poor Arthur
anxiously. Having never seen him otherwise than in his town
clothes she had no idea what he would look like. It had been left
to the professor to help his ladies out of the boat because
Renouard, as if intent on giving directions, had stepped forward at
once to meet the half-caste Luiz hurrying down the path. In the
distance, in front of the dazzlingly sunlit bungalow, a row of
dark-faced house-boys unequal in stature and varied in complexion
preserved the immobility of a guard of honour.

Luiz had taken off his soft felt hat before coming within earshot.