Pierre is stupefied by this unexpected release. He seems neither elated nor curious at such good fortune. Sir Donald was at the prison when Pierre came out. They walked away together. To Sir Donald's question:
"What can I now do for you, Mr. Lanier?" there is a long silence, then comes reply:
Hearing that Paul is being kindly treated, Pierre looks grateful, and says:
Sir Donald now offers to do all in his power for Pierre's future comfort, adding:
"I will consider it a privilege to help you."
Pierre smiles vacantly, stands in reverie, then extending his hand, in low tones says:
"My boy is innocent! His father did it all."
With Sir Donald's assurance that in a few days he will meet Pierre at a designated place in London, and tell him some good news, they separate.
When first confined in the asylum Paul had been fierce and violent. This was followed by more pacific moods, and he became quite tractable. At times Paul indulged in childish speech, and cried for his father's coming. After a long reverie Paul once said:
"No, I did not drown them! That was Alice at--at--what's the name of that place? That strong fellow could swim. What's his name? Yes, that's it."
Within a week after Thomas Webster's return occurred those happy nuptials. Because of tragic happenings there were few invited guests. All had resulted well. Past sorrows cast their inevitable forward shadows, but the present is nevertheless joyous in full content, luminous with halo of future hopes.
Each day Pierre Lanier calls at the asylum. Through Sir Donald's previous suggestion, Pierre is accorded special privileges. Paul grows hysterically joyful when his father comes. Alone after these oft-recurring visits, Paul sobs bitterly.
From Sir Donald and Thomas Webster Pierre scrupulously declines any offers of personal assistance. This is not through pique or pride.
That restitution had been in nature of a bid for Paul's deliverance, but these would-be almoners were not contracting parties. To his clingingly audacious supplications in behalf of the crazed Paul, Pierre had heard an imperious voice whisper:
Pierre is not quite sure that this is a divinely stated "condition precedent," but will treat it as such.
With gropingly tenacious faith he stumbles toward this hinted adjudication. Without suspicion of selfish motive or accepted personal benefit, Pierre will keep his part of the solemn pact.