She came at once, and put her arm around him. He looked up at her, smiling.
"You think I'm very tired, I know," he said—"But I'm not. I—I want to say a word to you."
Still keeping her arm round him, she patted his shoulder gently.
"Yes, David! What is it?"
"It is just this. You know I told you I had some papers that I valued, locked away in the little cupboard in my room?"
"Yes. I know."
"Well now,—when—when I die—will you promise me to take these papers yourself to the address that is written on them? That's all I ask of you! Will you?"
"Of course I will!" she said, readily—"You know you've kept the key yourself since you got well from your bad fever last year——"
"There is the key," he said, drawing it from his pocket, and holding it up to her—"Take it now!"
"But why now——?" she began.