'That's South Petherwin church,' I said, as the car dashed through the village; 'it's only a mile or two now.'
'That Dr. Merril seems a sensible chap. You say you asked him to admit no one into the room but Sir Thomas and Lady Bolivick. Why?'
'I hardly know,' I replied. 'I think I acted on impulse.'
'A very good thing, sometimes.' And after that he did not speak another word till we reached the house.
When I entered Edgecumbe's room I found him still alive, but weaker. I noticed that a kind of froth had gathered around his mouth, and that his eyes had a stony stare. He was still unconscious, and had not uttered a coherent sentence since I had left.
'Will every one kindly leave the room except Dr. Merril?' And Colonel
McClure looked towards Sir Thomas and Lady Bolivick as he spoke.
'Do you wish me to go too, Colonel?' I said.
'I think my words were plain enough,' and he spoke like a man in a temper.
'I suppose every one has gone to bed,' I remarked to Sir Thomas.
'No, Lorna is still up. She is a silly girl,—of course she can do no good.'