"You must not mind," said Celia. "Lord Heyton is, naturally, very much upset. I should think he scarcely knows what he is saying to you."
"Very likely," assented Mr. Clendon gravely, and without any sign of resentment.
"I will go up now," said Celia; "and I will come down again to you directly."
"One moment," he said, staying her with a gesture. "Will you give me a sheet of paper and a pen and ink?"
Celia did so. Mr. Clendon wrote the letter "W" on the paper, folded it and handed it to her.
"Will you give him this, my dear? If he cannot read it, you may open it and tell him what is written on it."
CHAPTER XXIX
Celia went up to the sick-room. She saw at a glance that the Marquess's condition had improved; he was, of course, still dangerously ill, and very weak; but his eyes, as they rested on her, were perfectly intelligent and he smiled slightly as she bent over him. Then she turned away to Doctor Scott and told him of Mr. Clendon's arrival and desire to see the Marquess.
"I don't think he can do any harm, if he'll be quiet," said the doctor. "At any rate, there is not sufficient reason for refusing to show the paper to the Marquess."