The old man lay quite still, breathing heavily. His eyes were yet open, but had fixed themselves in one direction.
The doctor came. He directed that the sufferer should at once be put into a warm bed.
'My room, then,' said Luke. 'Come and help, Jim.'
The directions were soon carried out, and the doctor went off, asking someone to follow for medicine.
The wound proved to be of no moment; graver causes must have led to the state of coma in which the old man lay. When Luke returned from the doctor's, he reported that the latter had spoken rather seriously.
'I must go and see Lydia,' he said to his sister. 'You don't mind this bother, Jane, eh? You'll sit by him?'
'Of course I will. Go and fetch her; it's my belief he hasn't very long to live.'
It seemed to Ackroyd a long time since he had knocked at the door in Walnut Tree Walk; very much had come about since then. Impatient, he had to repeat his knock before any one came. Then Mr. Jarmey appeared. No, he knew Miss Trent was not in; she had gone out with his wife half an hour ago, but it was getting late, and they were sure to be soon back.
'Is Mr. Grail in?'
'I think so. I'll just knock and see.'