"'There are five chambers,' he said, 'and one is enough for me--I can spare you the other four!'
"I looked him in the face for a moment, and then said, 'Vancome, you cannot kill me, and for the present you shall not kill yourself, for at the moment you are not responsible for your actions.'
"'I will kill you!' he cried. 'Damn you! I will!' And he strove with all his might to pull the trigger, but was powerless. His right hand sank slowly down till it lay by his side, and his revolver dropped between his fingers on to the rug at his feet. He staggered back to his chair, and I went up to him, and placing my hand on his burning forehead made him sleep.
"At this moment the door opened, and a young, showily-dressed girl entered.
"'Oh!' she cried. 'Goodness, what is the matter?'
"'Lord Vancome is ill,' I said, 'and will have to be carefully watched. Is there any one here who could look after him?'
"'Ill,' she laughed, and her laugh, as her speech, told her origin and life. 'D. T. ay? Well, I was a-thinking of cutting it just now--that settles the business!'
"'Wait a moment. Lord Vancome is not suffering from delirium tremens.'
"I said this, not because I wished for her services, but because there were enough reports about already without her adding a false one.
"'Who are you?' I asked.