Hannibal stayed and took another drink. It was near eleven when he excused himself too. He was met with sounds of disappointment as to his early departure. But he smiled and was not persuaded to have one more drink.

He dressed in dark clothes and wore a dark coat, in order to be as invisible as possible. He slipped out easily, and soon enough was moving around the gardens and then the woods.

The smells were delightful, but there was something else in the air.