FicWad

At the bank of the river all was silent but the river itself. Victoria felt a pang of doubt. "What would
Antoine say?" she wondered for a moment, then sadly remembered that Antoine would never say
another word. Quickly recovering, Victoria was able to see, by the light of her lamp, a couple of small
boats docked there. Upon closer investigation, she noticed something floating, almost under the
smallest of the vessels, or rather someone, apparently drowned.

"Hello!" Victoria called. There was no response, so she drew nearer. She climbed aboard the tiny
rowboat, using an oar to move it a fraction, freeing the man, who quickly and fortunately washed up
on the bank. Disembarking as swiftly as possible, Victoria pulled and tugged at the man, who was
easily twice her size, until she had him completely out of the water, face up. He was fully clothed in
the uniform of a policeman.

"Bloody Hell!" She exclaimed. "He's dead!"

She looked at the man's pale face, and was at once struck by the strength of his features.

"Something of the Gypsy in this one, I'd wager!" Victoria mused as she gently traced the thick
eyebrows with her finger.

She noticed that his eyelashes were just as thick. She observed the thick, yet neatly kept sideburns.
They were as silvery as his long hair, which was tied loosely back. Antoine's hair would have gone a
similar shade of silver had he been allowed to grow old...