"Does he want to see me?"
"Yes, indeed he does. In fact, he will give himself no rest at all until he has seen you."
"Do you know why?"
"I haven't the least idea. Perhaps you know, Mr. Fortescue."
"How should I know?"
"Did you not send the Earl a letter when you were here last? I remember writing an answer at his dictation. Now, whatever that letter of yours contained, I should imagine would be the reason of his wishing to see you now."
At this moment Sir Lawrence Taylor entered, and Mr. Milroy introduced Mr. Fortescue to him.
"The earl wishes to see you at once, Mr. Fortescue. It was quite against my judgment that he should see any one. Perfect quiet is essential for him, but I find that we shall have no hope of allaying the present alarming symptoms until he has had the interview upon which he insists. Will you, therefore, be so good as to follow me to his room?"
The doctor led the way, and Kenneth followed him.
They ascended the great staircase and went into a large bedroom, the mullioned windows of which looked out towards the front of the Castle. The bed was draped in costly Oriental silk hangings, and beneath these, and propped up by so many pillows that he was sitting more than lying, Kenneth saw the Earl. Two nurses were in attendance, and a doctor was sitting beside him with his finger on his pulse.