Note 2 — Chapter IX
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At a much later date Nona told Sabre of Tony's death:
"It was in that advance of ours. Just before Vimy Ridge. At Arras. Marko, he was shot down leading his men. He wouldn't let them take him away. Re was cheering them on. And then he was hit again. He was terribly wounded. Oh, terribly. They got him down to the clearing station. They didn't think he could possibly live. But you know how wonderful he always was. Even in death that extraordinary spirit of his.... They got him to Boulogne. I was there and I heard quite by chance."
"You saw him, Nona?"
She nodded. "Just before he died. He couldn't speak. But he'd been speaking just before I came. He left a message with the nurse."
She drew a long breath. "Marko, the nurse gave me the message. She thought it was for me—and it wasn't."
She wiped her eyes. "He was watching us. I know he knew she was telling me, and his eyes—you know that mocking kind of look they used to have? Poor Tony! It was there. He died like that.... Marko, you know I'm very glad he just had his old mocking way while he died. Now it's over I'm glad. I wouldn't have had him sorry and unhappy just when he was dying. He was just utterly untouched by anything all his life, not to be judged as ordinary people are judged, and I know perfectly well he'd have wished to go out just his mocking, careless self to the last. He was utterly splendid. All that was between us, that was nothing once the war came. Always think kindly of him, Marko."
Sabre said, "I do. I've never been able but to admire him." She said, "Every one did Poor Tony. Brave Tony!"