'You needn't worry about that,' said Favell, beginning to smile;
'I'll be sober all right.
Sober as the judge will be when he sentences Max in three months' time.
I rather think this Doctor Baker is going to prove my case, after all.'
He looked around at each one of us and began to laugh.
I think he too had understood at last the significance of that visit to the doctor.
'Well,' he said, 'what time are we going to start in the morning?'
Colonel Julyan looked at Maxim.
'How early can you be ready?'
'Any time you say,' said Maxim.
'Nine o'clock?'
'Nine o'clock,' said Maxim.
'How do we know he won't do a bolt in the night?' said Favell.
'He's only to cut round to the garage and get his car.'
'Is my word enough for you?' said Maxim, turning to Colonel Julyan.
And for the first time Colonel Julyan hesitated.
I saw him glance at Frank.
And a flush came over Maxim's face.
I saw the little pulse beating on his forehead.
'Mrs Danvers,' he said slowly, 'when Mrs de Winter and I go to bed tonight will you come up yourself and lock the door on the outside?
And call us yourself, at seven in the morning?'
'Yes, sir,' said Mrs Danvers.
Still she kept her eyes on him, still her hands clutched at her dress.
'Very well, then,' said Colonel Julyan brusquely.
'I don't think there is anything else we need discuss, tonight.
I shall be here sharp at nine in the morning.
You will have room for me in your car, de Winter?'
'Yes,' said Maxim.
'And Favell will follow us in his?'
'Right on your tail, my dear fellow, right on your tail,' said Favell.
Colonel Julyan came up to me and took my hand.
'Good night,' he said.
'You know how I feel for you in all this, there's no need for me to tell you.
Get your husband to bed early, if you can.
It's going to be a long day.'
He held my hand a minute and then he turned away.
It was curious how he avoided my eye. He looked at my chin.
Frank held the door for him as he went out.
Favell leant forward and filled his case with cigarettes from the box on the table.
'I suppose I'm not going to be asked to stop to dinner?' he said.
Nobody answered.
He lit one of the cigarettes, and blew a cloud of smoke into the air.
'It means a quiet evening at the pub on the highroad then,' he said, 'and the barmaid has a squint.
What a hell of a night I'm going to spend!
Never mind, I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
Good night, Danny old lady, don't forget to turn the key on Mr de Winter, will you?'
He came over to me and held out his hand.
Like a foolish child I put my hands behind my back.
He laughed, and bowed.
'It's just too bad, isn't it?' he said.