'The medical Dictionary.'

'Oh, yes; bless me; of course.... A calm, complete sleep of utter
prostration--utter nervous prostration. And can one wonder? Poor
fellow, poor fellow!' He walked to the window and peered between
the blinds. 'Sparrows, sunshine--yes, and here's the postman,' he
said, as if to himself. Then he turned sharply round, with mind
made up.

'Now, do you leave me here,' he said. 'Take half an hour's quiet
rest. He will be glad of a dull old fellow like me when he wakes.
And as for my pretty bride, if I miss the train, she must wait
till the next. Good discipline, my dear. Oh, dear me! I don't
change. What a precious experience now this would have been for a
tottery, talkative, owlish old parochial creature like me. But
there, there. Light words make heavy hearts, I see. I shall be
quite comfortable. No, no, I breakfasted at home. There's hat and
umbrella; at 9.3 I can fly.'

Mrs Lawford thanked him mutely. He smilingly but firmly bowed her
out and closed the door.

But eyes and brain had been very busy. He had looked at the
gutted candle; at the tinted bland portrait on the
dressing-table; at the chair drawn-up; at the boots; and now
again he turned almost with a groan towards the sleeper. Then he
took out an envelope, on which he had jotted various memoranda,
and waited awhile. Minutes passed and at last the sleeper faintly
stirred, muttering.