er, I will send over to Fairclose to
break the news to his wife. Yes, I will come round and let you know how
he is going on as soon as I can leave him."

Cuthbert nodded and put on his hat and went out. James Harford was
standing a few paces from the door.

"He has had a fit," Cuthbert said, as he joined him.

"I thought that was it when I saw the clerk run down the street without
a hat and come back with the doctor two or three minutes later. Will he
get over it?"

"The doctor thinks so, and I am sure I most sincerely hope he will do
so--it would be a bad business in all ways if he did not. Now, Mr.
Harford, I don't think there is any occasion to detain you here longer;
it may be days before I can see him again, and I don't think it will be
needful for you to confirm my statements. I fancy the fight is all out
of him--it came upon him too suddenly--if he had known that I was here
he might have braced himself up, but coming down like an avalanche upon
him it stunned him. Now, Mr. Harford, you must permit me to draw a check
for ten pounds for your expenses down here; when I come to my own again
I shall be able properly to show my gratitude for the inestimable
services you have rendered me."

"I will take the money for my expenses, Mr. Hartington, but I can assure
you that I have no thought or wish for payment of any kind for my share
in this business, and am only too glad to have been able to give some
little aid towards righting the grievous harm you have suffered, to say
nothing of paying off my old score against Brander."

Half an hour later Dr. Edwardes returned home.

"He is conscious now," he said to Cuthbert. "That is to say, vaguely
conscious. I have not let him speak a word, but simply told him he had
had a fit and must remain absolutely quiet. I don't suppose he has as
yet any recollection whatever of what preceded it. I am going to write a
note and send it up to Fairclose. I must keep a close watch over him for
a bit, for I have taken a good deal of blood from him."

"I would rather you did not mention to anyone, Doctor, that I was
present at the time he had the fit, as things may happen ere long that
will set people talking, and if it was known that it was during an
interview with me that he had this apoplectic stroke it might give rise
to unpleasant surmises--unpleasant not only to him but to me, for--this
is also a secret at present--I am going to marry his eldest daughter!"

"You don't say so, Cu