“That is quite evident.”

“Well, I turned then to take another look at Orizaba. To tell the truth, I did not like the idea of his sleeping in my room, and I couldn’t yet understand why he did so.”

“Well?”

“I hesitated a moment or so, and then I crossed the room to his side and spoke to him. He neither replied nor moved, and so I seized him by the shoulder and shook him.”

Danton shuddered as he uttered this last sentence—shuddered and uttered a low groan.

“And then——” said Nick.

“Why, then his head fell over on one side, and I saw that his eyes were half open, and—— Well, I seemed to know instantly that he was dead.”

“What did you do then?”

“I didn’t do anything at first. I only stood there staring at him in amazed wonder. I think my senses as well as my muscles were paralyzed.”

“Quite likely.”