"I say, Bolitho"—it was a county court judge who spoke to him—"Did you notice that woman's face who fell down in a faint this morning? It was positively ghastly when she looked at you."
Evidently Judge Bolitho did not hear. He took not the slightest notice of the remark. He was still toying with the wineglass.
"I say, Bolitho, aren't you well?"
And still the judge's face was rigid, and his eyes had in them a fixed far-away look. The other caught him by the sleeve.
"Aren't you well, Bolitho?"
The judge gave a great start.
"What's that?" he asked.
"Aren't you well? You look deathly pale. Have another glass of wine, my dear fellow."
But the judge rose to his feet.
"No; I'm not very well," he said. "I think I must ask you to excuse me."