Alfred quitted the room, and Jack sunk back on the pillow in a doze, filled with pleasant reflections.
Soon the nurse, who had been engaged from a neighboring hospital, came up-stairs and sat down to watch the patient.
She was not in the best temper, for she had been disturbed while at supper and was lamenting the good things she had left below stairs.
"It's very odd," she murmured, "that a sick man can't be left alone for an hour. This one wouldn't die or jump out of the window. That buttered toast and those sardines I quitted were real elegant; my mouth waters at the thought of them."
Scarcely had the words escaped her lips than there was a knock at the door.
"Come!" she said, testily.
The door opened and a dark-haired man of swarthy complexion appeared.
"Please!" he exclaimed. "I've brought the medicine, from the drug-store, and they told me down-stairs to come up with it."
"You ain't the young fellow that came before," the nurse said, eying him critically.
"No, he's a friend of mine, and he asked me to come."