As may be imagined, after driving a heavy car for over a hundred miles at
night-time, I was dead tired, but I offered to run Buller home. The
truth was, I was in such a state of nervous tension that I could not
remain inactive, and the thought of sitting still while McClure and
Merril consulted about my friend's condition drove me to madness.

'Will you?' asked Buller. 'I--I think I should like to get back,' and I
could see that he also was nervous and ill at ease.

'I can get you to your place in a few minutes,' I said, 'and by the time
I get back I hope the doctors will have something to tell us.'

A few minutes later, as we were moving rapidly to Buller's house, I said
abruptly, 'Was it not rather strange that Springfield should take your
car?'

'I suppose it was,' he replied, 'but he is a funny fellow.'

'What do you know about him?' I asked.

'There is not much to know, is there?' and he spoke hesitatingly. 'The
Army List will give you full particulars of his career. I believe he has
spent most of his time abroad.'

'I have neither had time nor opportunity to study Army Lists. How long
was he in India?'

'Not long; only two or three years, I think.'

'Is he any one in particular?' I asked.

I could see by the light of the moon, which was now high in the heavens,
that the young fellow looked at me attentively, as though he was trying
to read my motive in asking these questions.

'I think he expects to be,' was his reply; 'he is as poor as a church
mouse now, but St. Mabyn says he is heir to a peerage, and that he will
have pots of money some time.'

'What peerage?'

'I really never asked him. It--it wasn't quite my business, was it? He
isn't the sort of chap to talk about himself.'

Sir Thomas was still up when I got back to the house, and the sight of
his face struck terror into my heart. He, who was usually so florid,
looked positively ghastly. His flesh hung loosely on his cheeks, while
he was very baggy around the eyes.

'Have you heard anything?' I asked.

'I don't know, I am not sure,' he replied, 'but I think it is all over.'

'All over! What do you mean?'

'As soon as you had gone, I sent my wife and Lorna to bed. I wouldn't
have them stay up any longer. You see, they could do no good.'

'Have you seen the doctors?'

'No. But I was frightfully nervous, and I crept up to the door of
Edgecumbe's room. I heard them talking together.'

'What did they say?'

'I could d