Romer stepped aside and spoke to an officer.
“Unfortunately,” he said, returning, “they have already carried her off. But you can drive right down behind her.—Hello! What’s the matter with Ripley?”
They looked around toward Arthur. A glance showed them that he had fainted.
“When did this happen?” asked Romer.
No one could tell. No one had paid the slightest attention to Arthur, since the prisoner had first appeared in court.
“Well, we must get him out of here right away,” said Romer.
Mr. Flint and Hetzel lent a hand apiece; and his three friends carried the unhappy man out of the room, of course thereby creating a new sensation among the spectators. They bore him along the corridor, and into Mr. Romer’s office, where they laid him upon a sofa. Romer touched a bell.
“I’ll have to send some one to take my place in court,” he explained.
To the subordinate who appeared, “Ask Mr. Birdsall to step here,” he said.
Mr. Birdsall came, received Romer’s orders, departed.