ot half-way on the road, and as we had the
railway-carriage to ourselves, I was talking to him with imprudent
earnestness, when he began to tremble all over, and went into an
hysterical paroxysm of mingled tears and laughter. I wished to stop at
the next station, but he was not long recovering, and insisted on coming
on. Still, as we approached Fawley, after muttering to himself, as far
as I could catch his words, incoherently, he sank into a heavy state
of lethargy or stupor, resting his head on my shoulder. It was with
difficulty I roused him when he entered the park."

"Poor old man," said George feelingly; "no doubt the quick succession
of emotions through which he has lately passed has overcome him for the
time. But the worst is now passed. His interview with Darrell must cheer
his heart and soothe his spirits; and that interview over, we must give
him all repose and nursing. But tell me what passed between you--if he
was very indignant that I could not suffer men like you and my uncle
Alban and Guy Darrell to believe him a picklock and a thief."

Lionel began his narrative, but had not proceeded far in it before
Darrell's voice was heard shouting loud, and the library bell rang
violently.

They hurried into the library, and Lionel's fears were verified. Waife
was in strong convulsions; and as these gradually ceased, and he rested
without struggle, half on the floor, half in Darrell's arms, he was
evidently unconscious of all around him. His eye was open, but fixed in
a glassy stare. The servants thronged into the room; one was
despatched instantly to summon the nearest medical practitioner. "Help
me--George--Lionel," said Darrell, "to bear him up-stairs. Mills, light
us." When they reached the landing-place, Mills asked, "Which room,
sir?" Darrell hesitated an instant, then his grey eye lit into its dark
fire. "My father's room--he shall rest on my father's bed."

When the surgeon arrived, he declared Waife to be in imminent
danger--pressure on the brain. He prescribed prompt and vigorous
remedies, which had indeed before the surgeon's arrival suggested
themselves to, and been partly commenced by, Darrell, who had gone
through too many varieties of experience to be unversed in the rudiments
of leechcraft. "If I were in my guest's state," asked Darrell of the
practitioner, "what would you do?"

"Telegraph instantly for Dr. F------."

"Lionel--you hear? Take my own horse--he will carry you like the wind.
Off