"I don't quite see, sir," observed the doctor.
"I give him up, sir; you need not be afraid to tell me."
"You are right, perhaps, to give him up; but I always say exactly what I think. Doctor—a—Pratt and I—we tell you frankly—we think him in a very critical state; but it's quite on the cards he may recover; and we have given very full directions to the nurse, who appears to be a very intelligent person; and don't let him shift his attitude unnecessarily, it may prejudice him, and be in fact attended with danger—very serious danger; and Doctor Pratt shall look in at five o'clock—you were so good as to say, Doctor Pratt, you would look in at five. Doctor Pratt will look in then, and do anything that may be necessary; and if there should be the slightest symptom of hæmorrhage send for him instantly, and the nurse knows what to do; and I think—I think I have said everything now."
"Hæmorrhage, sir! But what hæmorrhage? Why, what hæmorrhage is apprehended?" asked Dives, amazed.
"Internal or external it may occur," said the doctor; and Pratt, coughing and shaking his chops, interposed hurriedly and said—
"Yes, there may be a bleeding, it may come to that."
"He has bled a great deal already, you are aware," resumed the Slowton doctor, "and in his exhausted state a return of that might of course be very bad."
"But I don't understand," persisted Dives. "I beg pardon, but I really must. What is this hæmorrhage? it is not connected with gout, is it?"
"Gout, sir! no; who said gout? A bad wound, that seems to run toward the lung," answered the Slowton man.
"Wound! how's this? I did not hear," and Dives looked frightened, and inquiringly on Pratt, who said—