“Go!” she said quickly. “Fetch Miss Gordon!”
Jocelyn came, and Maurice and Guy Oscard; for they had been together in the dining-room when Joseph delivered Marie's message.
Nestorius was wide awake now. When he saw Oscard his small face suddenly expanded into a brilliant grin.
“Bad case!” he said.
It was rather startling, until Marie spoke.
“He thinks you are Mr. Meredith,” she said. “Mr. Meredith taught him to say 'Bad case!'”
Nestorius looked from one to the other with gravely speculative eyes, which presently closed.
“He is dying—yes!” said the mother, looking at Jocelyn.
Oscard knew more of this matter than any of them. He went forward and leant over the table. Marie removed a piece of salted bacon that was lying on the table near to the pillow. With the unconsciousness of long habit she swept some crumbs away with her apron. Oscard was trying to find the pulse in the tiny wrist, but there was not much to find.
“I am afraid he is very ill,” he said.