Histeetotalismhad，withthelapseofyears，unconsciouslybecometheoutwardandvisiblesigntohimselfofhissecretvows；andareturntoitsopposite，howevermildlydone，signifiedwithceremoniousdistinctnesstheformalacceptanceofdelectationslongforsworn。
ButtheexceedingfreshnessofhisfeelingforPaula，whichbyreasonofitslongarrestwasthatofamanfarunderthirty，andwasawondertohimselfeveryinstant，wouldnotlongbrookweighinginbalances。Hewishedsuddenlytocommithimself；toremovethequestionofretreatoutoftheregionofdebate。Theclockstrucktwo:andthewishbecamedetermination。Hearose，andwrappinghimselfinhisdressing-gownwenttothenextroom，wherehetookfromashelfinthepantryseverallargebottles，whichhecarriedtothewindow，tilltheystoodonthesillagoodlyrow。Therehadbeensufficientlightintheroomforhimtodothiswithoutacandle。Nowhesoftlyopenedthesash，andtheradianceofagibbousmoonridingintheoppositeskyfloodedtheapartment。Itfellonthelabelsofthecaptain\'sbottles，revealingtheircontentstobesimpleaeratedwatersfordrinking。
DeStancylookedoutandlistened。Thegunsthatstooddrawnupwithintheyardglistenedinthemoonlightreachingthemfromoverthebarrack-wall:therewasanoccasionalstampofhorsesinthestables；alsoameasuredtreadofsentinels——oneormoreatthegates，oneatthehospital，onebetweenthewings，twoatthemagazine，andothersfurtheroff。Recurringtohisintentionhedrewthecorksofthemineralwaters，andinvertingeachbottleonebyoneoverthewindow-sill，hearditscontentsdribbleinasmallstreamontothegravelbelow。
HethenopenedthehamperwhichDarehadsent。Uncorkingoneofthebottleshemurmured，\'ToPaula!\'anddrankaglassoftherubyliquor。
\'Amanagainaftereighteenyears，\'hesaid，shuttingthesashandreturningtohisbedroom。