rn to the barracks
for some hours, they communicated with the officer of the guard, who lost
no time in informing the Commandant. Major Kelly fancied Tournier might
be with his friend at the Manor Farm, but, not being quite easy about it,
he went there himself.

"Oh," said Cosin, "I'll be bound he is at his favourite haunt. The
prison is not the place to read love-letters in. He always goes there
when he wants to be alone. Shall we go and see, major?"

There, as has been said, they found him. The first impression was that
he was dead. And no wonder: he looked so like it. But closer
examination shewed that life was still in him. As quickly as possible
they obtained a light cart, and tenderly placed the body in it--Cosin
supporting the head--and gently drove away.

"I wish you would allow me to take him to my house," said Cosin: "it is
nearer than the barracks; and by the look of the poor, dear fellow, he
will not bear much shaking, and--I should so like to have him."

The major thought a minute, and said, "Perhaps you are right. It is
nearer and quieter than the barracks. I can authorise you to take charge
of him, though Draper may be jealous of you."

So they brought him to the Manor House, and carried him upstairs with
utmost care, and placed him in Cosin's own room, for none other was
ready, and put him to bed.

He was still unconscious, and no restoratives they applied to the best of
their ability had any effect. Would he ever wake up again?

Meanwhile, a doctor was sent for post-haste. Those at the barracks were
all English, of whom Mr. Vise, of Stilton, was chief; and he, happening
to be there at the time, instantly drove to the Manor House.

"Brain fever," said the doctor, after careful examination of the patient:
"and a very bad case too I fear. It is of course too early to speak
positively as yet: but so far as I see at present, I should say it is
extremely improbable that he will ever regain consciousness. Perfect
quietude is all-essential to him. His life depends on it. He must have
had intense irritation of the brain, and some shock must have supervened
to bring him to the state in which I find him. What is that paper
clutched so tightly in his hand?" he added. "It may explain something."
And then, with a doctor's skill, he succeeded in disengaging from his
grasp the fatal letter, and read it.

"There is the explanation, at least in part."

Each of the others read the letter so fa