"I do not know. He was knocked down by a cab, and was carried to the hospital at once. He will be better cared for there than here."
"Yes, sir; I have no money to pay for doctors. Did Prue see the accident?"
"She knows nothing of it."
"Drip--drip--drip! Oh, God! will it never stop?"
It was Martha who was speaking. The men were awed by the despairing voice.
"It's my sister, sir; I told you, I think. She came upon me quite sudden to-night. I haven't seen her for years. She's in trouble. Martha, Martha!"
She shook the woman, who started wildly to her feet and looked this way and that with swift glances, more like a hunted animal than a human creature.
Rathbeal uttered an exclamation. It was the woman he had seen that afternoon standing at Mr. Fox-Cordery's door.
"Fate!" he said, and advanced toward her.
A violent spasm of fear seized Martha, and shook her in every limb. Crazed perhaps by her dreams, or terrified by the suspicion of a hidden evil in the appearance of Rathbeal, whom she instantly recognized, and who must have tracked her down for some new oppression, she retreated as he advanced, and watching her opportunity, rushed past him from the room, and flew into the dark shelter of the streets. They gazed after her in astonishment, and then followed her into the alley, and thence into the wider thoroughfare, but they saw no trace of her.