"Nothing, except that I have been really ill. But I am almost recovered. My mind has passed through a sort of crisis, William. I can now look back and see that I was not right. My present strength tells me of my former weakness. I am soon to be entirely well."
"Well, I am glad to hear that. It is particularly gratifying to me. And I suppose that you are, or, at least, soon will be, willing to concede that I am sometimes correct with regards to my dates."
"Yes, but we won’t mention that. It is of no importance."
"What! No importance? Take care, John, you’ll get back where you were, for when a man says that a date is of no importance, he’s in danger."
"William, I want you to do me a favor. I am almost afraid to trust myself to go out just now. Wait a moment." He went to his desk, found a telegraph blank, and upon it wrote the following message: "The light has broken. Come back at once." William read the words and looked at him. "Go to the station," said the Judge, "and send this to Howard, in care of the conductor. It is not a secret, mind you, but don’t stay to show it. They would delay you with puzzling over it."
"All right, I’ll jump into a cab and go right over. I know the station. It’s only a few blocks from here. He didn’t go all the way down town. I heard him tell his mother. By the way," William added, "I found one of Howard’s French books—"
"Why, you said that French literature was the—"
"It is the civilizing force of the modern world. Go on, please. Just a moment. Tell Florence that I wish to see her."
When Florence came in her face was radiant. William had spread the news of Howard’s recall. "Ah," said the Judge, "you know that I have sent for him."
"Yes, father," she replied, going up to him with outstretched hands. He took her in his arms and kissed her. "What has happened?" she asked.
"The truth. You were right. I saw a vision."
She looked at him. "But what was it that brother saw?"
"Ah," said the old man, shaking his head, "you are shrewd. You are not willing to let it pass. Florence, we both saw Goyle disguised with his devilish art as Howard."
"All? Is not that enough for us to know, my child?"
"But, why did brother happen to lead you into the office just at that time?"