“I have telegraphed for our greatest specialist.”

“Ah!”

“And to the poor fellow’s father at Cannes. A terrible business, Frayne—a terrible business!”

“Yes; but he must not die—he must not die!”

Mr Draycott was silent for a few minutes. There was much he wanted to say, but the words seemed loth to come.

“We must be prepared for the worst, Frayne,” he said at last. “This is a dreadful shock.”

“Yes—yes!” groaned Richard.

“And I have something very hard to say to you.”

“You cannot say anything, sir, that will make me feel worse than I do.”

Mr Draycott shook his head.