clean when I awoke.
What I saw I could not interrupt. I was in a cataleptic state, I
suppose. I could not speak; but I saw like a lynx, and heard every
whisper. When I awakened in the morning I remembered nothing. I did not
know I had a secret. The knowledge was sealed up until the time came. A
sight of Charles Archer's face at any time would have had, as I suppose,
the same effect. When I saw him here, the first time, it was at the
general's at Belmont; though he was changed by time, and carefully
disguised, all would not do. I felt the sight of him was fatal. I was
quite helpless; but my mind never stopped working upon it till--till--'

Sturk groaned.

'See now,' said Toole, 'there's time enough, and don't fatigue yourself.
There, now, rest quiet a minute.'

And he made him swallow some more wine; and felt his pulse and shook his
head despondingly at Lowe, behind his back.

'How is it?' said Sturk, faintly.

'A little irritable--that's all,' said Toole.

''Till one night, I say,'--Sturk resumed, after a minute or two, 'it
came to me all at once, awake--I don't know--or in a dream; in a moment
I had it all. 'Twas like a page cut out of a book--lost for so many
years.' And Sturk moaned a despairing wish to Heaven that the secret had
never returned to him again.

'Yes, Sir--like a page cut out of a book, and never missed till 'twas
found again; and then sharp and clear, every letter from first to last.
Then, Sir--then--thinking 'twas no use at that distance of time taking
steps to punish him, I--I foolishly let him understand I knew him. My
mind misgave me from the first. I think it was my good angel that warned
me. But 'tis no use now. I'm not a man to be easily frightened. But it
seemed to me he was something altogether worse than a man, and
like--like Satan; and too much for me every way. If I was wise I'd have
left him alone. But 'tis no good fretting now. It was to be. I was too
outspoken--'twas always my way--and I let him know; and--and you see, he
meant to make away with me. He tried to take my life, Sir; and I think
he has done it. I'll never rise from this bed, gentlemen. I'm done for.'

'Come, Doctor Sturk, you mustn't talk that way, Pell will be out this
evening, and Dillon may be--though faith! I don't quite know that Pell
will meet him--but we'll put our heads together, and deuce is in it or
we'll set you on your legs again.'

Sturk was screwing his lips sternly together, and the lines of his gruf