“Don’t trouble about me,” said Dan. “Listen to his chest an’ see if you can hear his heart beating. Ban’t no odds if I’ve killed him; for if I hadn’t done it, he’d have killed me an’ my wife too. A near shave, by God! He had her by the hair an’ thicky pig-sticking knife between his teeth.”
“However comed you to let him in after last night, my dear?” asked Johnny.
“I was on the watch,” she answered. “I seed a man with a black face running through the dawnlight, an’ I didn’t stop to think, but rushed to the door an’ flinged it open for him. He was on me like a tiger, an’ I thought ’twas all over when my husband leapt at him.”
“A brave day’s doings,” said Mr Beer. “Matter for a book of verses, if you only get well again, Daniel.”
As he spoke he put his ear to the breast of Titus Sim, and the others waited in silence.
“There’s something going on,” pronounced the publican. “The works be moving—no doubt ’tis the organ of his heart. But it don’t sound too merry by no means. However, where there’s life there’s hope; and where there’s death there’s hope in another world. Though ’twill take the Almighty all His time to get this chap saved. Cut off with murder in his heart!”
Mrs Beer returned. She had run all the way, and could not speak for a time. Daniel drank the spirits like a sailor; then Minnie was made to take a little, but not until it had been attempted to get some down the throat of Sim. This, however, proved impossible.
“I’d take him with us in the car,” said Sweetland, “but ’twill be all I can do to get to it myself. The doctor may look after him. Now, if you give me an arm, Johnny, I’ll make shift to walk to the road.”
Mrs Beer remained by the senseless footman, and her husband supported Daniel to the motor. Minnie followed them. She was suffering great agony, but made no sound. Once, midway between the cottage and the road, Daniel sat down to rest and drank more brandy; then he reached the motor and mounted it. Minnie climbed by his side, and the car was turned slowly round. Dan now felt better, and refused Johnny Beer’s offer to accompany him.
“I be right now,” he answered. “You go back to that devil in my house, an’ save his filthy life, if you can.”