ow of a cow--the crowing of
the cocks--the hum of the noisier daylight insect-life.

Jocelyn moved to the window, and her heart suddenly leapt to her throat.

On the brown turf in front of the house were two men, stretched side
by side, as if other hands had laid them there, dead. One man was much
bigger than the other. He was of exceptional stature. Jocelyn recognised
them almost immediately--Guy Oscard and Joseph. They had arrived during
the night, and, not wishing to disturb the sleeping household, had lain
them down in the front garden to sleep with a quiet conscience beneath
the stars. The action was so startlingly characteristic, so suggestive
of the primeval, simple man whom Oscard represented as one born out of
time, that Jocelyn laughed suddenly.

While she was still at the window, Marie rose and came to her side.
Nestorius was still sleeping. Following the direction of her mistress's
eyes, Marie saw the two men. Joseph was sleeping on his face, after the
manner of Thomas Atkins all the world over. Guy Oscard lay on his side,
with his head on his arm.

"That is so like Mr. Oscard," said Marie, with her patient smile, "so
like--so like. It could be no other man--to do a thing like that."

Jocelyn gave Nestorius back to his mother, and the two women stood for
a moment looking out at the sleepers, little knowing what the advent
of these two men brought with it for one of them. Then the Englishwoman
went to change her dress, awaking her brother as she passed his room.

It was not long before Maurice Gordon had hospitably awakened the
travellers and brought them in to change their torn and ragged clothes
for something more presentable. It would appear that Nestorius was not
particular. He did not mind dying on the kitchen table if need be. His
mother deposited him on this table on a pillow, while she prepared the
breakfast with that patient resignation which seemed to emanate from
having tasted of the worst that the world has to give.

Joseph was ready the first, and he promptly repaired to the kitchen,
where he set to work to help Marie, with his customary energy.

It was Marie who first perceived a difference in Nestorius. His dusky
little face was shining with a sudden, weakening perspiration, his limbs
lay lifelessly, with a lack of their usual comfortable-looking grace.

"Go!" she said quickly. "Fetch Miss Gordon!"

Jocelyn came, and Maurice and Guy Oscard; for they had been together in
the dining-roo