"You really wish it?"
"I believe it is the only thing that will save her life," I answered. "But you must come quickly, or it will be too late. She was sinking when I left the hotel."
With a hand that never shook he poured the contents of the glass into a small phial, and then placed the latter in his pocket.
"I am at your disposal now," he answered. "We will set off as soon as you like. As you say, we must lose no time."
"But will it not be necessary for you to take some drugs with you?" I asked.
"I am taking this one," he replied, placing his hat upon his head as he spoke.
I remembered that he had been making his prescription up as I entered the room. Had he then intended calling to see her, even supposing I had not come to ask his assistance? I had no chance of putting the question to him, however.
"Have you a gondola below?" he asked, as we went down the stairs.
I replied in the affirmative; and when we gained the hall door we descended the steps and took our places in it. On reaching the hotel I conducted him to the drawing-room, where we found the Dean and Glenbarth eagerly awaiting our coming. I presented the former to Nikola, and then went off to inform my wife of his arrival. She accompanied me back to the drawing-room, and when she entered the room Nikola crossed it to receive her. Though she looked at him in a frightened way I thought his manner soon put her at her ease.
"Perhaps you will be kind enough to take me to my patient," he said, when they had greeted each other. "As the case is so serious, I had better lose no time in seeing her."