She started when she heard of the
discovery of Ranelagh in the club-house on the entrance of the police,
and seemed disposed to ask some questions. But though the nurse gave her
an opportunity to do so, she appeared to hunt in vain for the necessary
words, and the narrative proceeded without further interruption. When all
was done, she sat quite still; then carefully, and with a show of more
judgment than might be expected from one of her years, she propounded
certain inquiries which brought out the main causes for her brother's
arraignment. When she had these fully in mind, she looked up into the
nurse's face again and repeated, quite calmly, but with immovable
decision, the order of an hour before:

"We must return at once. You will pack up immediately."

Miss Unwin nodded, and began to open the trunks.

This, however, was a ruse. She did not intend to take her patient back
that night. She was afraid to risk it. The next day would be soon enough.
But she would calm her by making ready, and when the proper moment came,
would find some complication of trains which would interfere with their
immediate departure.

Meanwhile, she would communicate at the earliest moment with Mr. Fox. She
had been in the habit of sending him frequent telegrams as to her
patient's condition. They had been invariable so far: "No difference;
mind still a blank," or some code word significant of the same. But a new
word was necessary now. She must look it up, and formulate her telegram
before she did anything else.

The code-book was in her top tray. She hunted and hunted for it, without
being able to lay her hands on it. She grew very nervous. She was only
human; she was in a very trying position, and she realised it. Where
could that book be? Suddenly she espied it and, falling on her knees
before the trunk, with her back still to Carmel, studied out the words
she wanted. She was leaning over the tray to write these words in her
note-book, when--no one ever knew how it happened--the lid of the heavy
trunk fell forward and its iron edge struck her on the nape of the neck,
with a keen blow which laid her senseless. When Carmel reached her side,
she found herself the strong one and her stalwart nurse the patient.

When help had been summoned, the accident explained, and everything done
for the unconscious woman which medical skill could suggest, Carmel,
finding a moment to herself, stole to the trunk, and, lifting up the lid,
looked in. Sh