“I’m glad you’ve come,” he said to Dr. Ravenshaw. “It’s you I was just going out to fetch.”
There was something strange in his manner, and the doctor looked at him quickly. “What’s the matter with you, man? Is there anything wrong?”
“That’s what I don’t know. But I’m afeered, yes, by God, I’m afeered.”
His voice broke hoarsely, and he stood before them with his eyes averted from the three wondering faces regarding him. Mrs. Pendleton stepped quickly forward, and grasped his arm.
“What is it, Thalassa? Has anything happened to my brother?”
“There’s been a great noise in his room, like as if something heavy had crashed down, then silence like the grave. I went up and called—an’ tried to open the door, but I couldn’t.”
“Why didn’t you try to break in the door?” said Dr. Ravenshaw.
“Tweren’t my place,” was the dogged retort. “I know my place. I was just going to St. Fair for you and his brother.”
“How long is it since this happened—since you heard the crash, I mean.”
“Not many minutes agone. Just before you came to the door.”