Even Perez gave up urging after a while and conversation lagged again.
In a few minutes the Doctor came back, and his examination of the
patient and demands for glasses of water, teaspoons, and the like, kept
Perez and Jerry busy. It was some time before they noticed that Captain
Eri had disappeared. Even then they did not pay much attention to the
circumstance, but watched the physician at work and questioned him
concerning the nature of their guest's illness.

"D'you think he'll die, Doctor?" inquired Jerry in a hushed voice, as
they came out of the sick room into the connecting chamber.

"Can't say. He has had a stroke of paralysis, and there seem to be
other complications. If he regains consciousness I shall think he has a
chance, but not a very good one. His pulse is a little stronger. I don't
think he'll die to-night, but if he lives he will need a good nurse, and
I don't know of one in town."

"Nor me neither," said Captain Perez.

"Well, A'nt Zuby might come," suggested Jerry, "but I should hate to
have her nuss me, and as for bein' WELL in a house where she was--whew!"

"A'nt Zuby!" sneered his messmate. "If Lorenzo had a fit and they called
A'nt Zuby he'd have another one and die. A'nt Zuby! I'd 'bout as soon
have M'lissy and be done with it."

"Yes, I don't doubt YOU WOULD," was the anything but gentle retort.

What Perez would have said to this thrust must be surmised, for just
then the dining-room door opened and closed again.