ained their restless brightness. There could
be no doubt, as they privately informed Maurice, he was in the first
stages of a violent fever; and the best thing that could be done was to
get in a professional nurse at once. Yes, Mr. Mangan might communicate
with his friends; his father, being himself a doctor, would judge
whether it were worth while coming up just then; but, of course, it
would be inadvisable to have a lot of relations crowding the sick-room.
Obviously, the immediate cause of the fever was the chill caught on the
previous night, but there might have been predisposing causes; and
everything calculated to excite the mind unduly was to be kept away from
him. As for the throat, there were no dangerous symptoms as yet; the
simple congestion would probably disappear, when the fever abated, with
a return to health; but the people at the theatre might as well know
that it would be a long time before Mr. Moore could return to his
duties. Dr. Ballardyce would see at once about having a professional
nurse sent; meanwhile, quiet, rest, and the absence of mental
disturbance were the great things. And so the two augurs departed.

The moment that Mangan returned to Lionel's room, the latter glanced at
him quickly and furtively.

"Are they gone, Maurice?" he whispered.

"Yes."

"And the check--for Lord Rockminster?"

"There it is, already drawn out," was the answer, as the slip of lilac
paper was unfolded; "but I can't take it to him until the nurse
comes--certainly not."

"She may be an hour, Maurice," Lionel said, restlessly. "I don't want
anybody to wait on me. If you think it necessary, call up Mrs. Jenkins,
and she can sit in the next room; the bell here is enough. Oh, my
head!--my head!"--and he turned away, wearily.

Maurice saw well enough that he would never rest until this money was
paid, so he called up the house-porter's wife and gave her some
instructions, and forthwith set off for the address in Palace Gardens
Terrace which Lionel had given him. When he arrived there, he was
informed that his lordship was not at home. He pressed his inquiries; he
said his business was of the utmost importance; and at last he elicited,
after considerable waiting, that, though no one in the house could say
whither Lord Rockminster had gone, it was understood that he was dining
at the Universities Club that evening. With this information Mangan
returned to Piccadilly. He found the nurse already arrived and
installed.