'No. But I was frightfully nervous, and I crept up to the door of
Edgecumbe's room. I heard them talking together.'
'What did they say?'
'I could detect nothing plainly, but I am sure I heard one of them say, "It's all over." Oh, it is positively awful! I never had such a thing happen in my house before. Please don't think I blame you, Luscombe; you didn't know that such a thing would happen when you brought him here. But the thought of a guest dying in my house is—is—don't you see——?'
'I am going to know the worst, anyhow,' I said, for, although I quite understood his feelings and was naturally upset at the thought of my being the occasion of his trouble, it was as nothing compared with my anxiety about my friend.
I therefore abruptly left him, and rushed upstairs to Edgecumbe's room.
I knocked, but receiving no answer I went in.
'How is he?' I asked.
Neither of them spoke, and from the look on their faces I judged that my worst fears were realized.
CHAPTER XXI
COLONEL McCLURE'S VERDICT
I moved quickly towards the bed, and in the dim light of the lamp which stood near saw that a change had come over my friend's face. A look of perfect peace and tranquility had taken the place of anguish.