"Can't you look?" returned Jan. "Where are you off to?"
"There's something the matter at Duff's. About a dozen came here in a body, wanting you. Bob says Dan Duff was dying."
Jan turned his eyes on Bob, the surgery-boy. Bob answered the look—
"It's what they said, sir. They said as Dan Duff was a-dying and a-frothing at the mouth. It's about five minutes ago, sir."
"Did you go over?" asked Jan of Cheese. "I saw a crowd round Mrs. Duff's door."
"No, I didn't. I am going now. I was indoors, having my supper."
"Then you need not trouble yourself," returned Jan. "Stop where you are, and digest your supper."
He, Jan, was speeding off, when a fresh deputation arrived. Twenty anxious faces at the least, all in a commotion, their tongues going together. "Dan was frothing dreadful, and his legs was twitchin' like one in the epilepsies."
"What has caused it?" asked Jan. "I saw him well enough an hour or two ago."
"He see a dead man, sir; as it's said. We can't come to the bottom of it, 'cause of his not answering no questions. He be too bad, he be."