Each in turn, we took his hand, and the promise was made. Then said the
Professor as we moved off, "Two nights hence you shall meet with me and dine
together at seven of the clock with friend John. I shall entreat two others, two that
you know not as yet, and I shall be ready to all our work show and our plans
unfold. Friend John, you come with me home, for I have much to consult you
about, and you can help me. Tonight I leave for Amsterdam, but shall return
tomorrow night. And then begins our great quest. But first I shall have much to
say, so that you may know what to do and to dread. Then our promise shall be
made to each other anew. For there is a terrible task before us, and once our feet
are on the ploughshare we must not draw back."
