"'Everybody' doesn't know anything about it. Almost nobody knows. Even the servants don't know. Your secretary sent them away, broke in and found you."
He closed his eyes and slept.
When he awoke again he felt that a long time had passed, that he was much better, that he was hungry. "Nurse!" he called.
The woman at the head of the bed rose and laid a cool hand upon his forehead. "How good that feels," he mumbled gratefully. "What nice hands you have, nurse," and he lifted his glance to her face. He stared wonderingly, confusedly. "I thought I was awake and almost well," he murmured. "And instead, I'm out of my head."
"Can I do anything for you?" It certainly was HER voice.
"Is it you, Pauline?" he asked, as if he feared a negative answer.
"Yes—John."
A long silence, then he said: "Why did you come?"
"The doctor wrote me that—wrote me the truth."
"But haven't you heard? Haven't you seen the papers? Don't they say I'm ruined?"