m to cause
anxiety to the Doctor, who hurried him at once into the prepared room.
When, assisted by some of the other men, he had undressed him, rubbed him
down and put him to bed, and had seen some of the others who had been
rescued from the wreck, he sought out Lady de Lannoy. He told her that
his anxiety was for the man's sight; an announcement which blanched his
hearer's cheeks. She had so made up her mind as to his perfect safety
that the knowledge of any kind of ill came like a cruel shock. She
questioned Mr. Hilton closely; so closely that he thought it well to tell
her at once all that he surmised and feared:

'That fine young fellow who swam out with his horse to him, tells me that
when he neared him he cried out that he was blind. I have made some
inquiries from those on the ship, and they tell me that he was a
passenger, named Robinson. Not only was he not blind then, but he was
the strongest and most alert man on the ship. If it be blindness it must
have come on during that long swim. It may be that before leaving the
ship he received some special injury--indeed he has several cuts and
burns and bruises--and that the irritation of the sea-water increased it.
I can do nothing till he wakes. At present he is in such a state that
nothing can be done for him. Later I shall if necessary give him a
hypodermic to ensure sleep. In the morning when I come again I shall
examine him fully.'

'But you are not going away to-night!' said Stephen in dismay. 'Can't
you manage to stay here? Indeed you must! Look at all these people,
some of whom may need special attention or perhaps treatment. We do not
know yet if any may be injured.' He answered at once:

'Of course I shall stay if you wish it. But there are two other doctors
here already. I must go over to my own place to get some necessary
instruments for the examination of this special patient. But that I can
do in the early morning.'

'Can I not send for what you want; the whole household are at your
service. All that can be done for that gallant man must be done. You
can send to London for special help if you wish. If that man is blind,
or in danger of blindness, we must have the best oculist in the world for
him.'

'All shall be done that is possible,' said he earnestly. 'But till I
examine him in the morning we can do nothing. I am myself an oculist;
that is my department in St. Stephen's Hospital. I have an idea of what
is wrong, but I