"Yes," said O'Neill. "Were you sleeping?"
The sick man smiled. "A peu pres," he answered.
"I was remembering certain matters—dreaming, in effect."
He shifted his head on his pillow, and his eyes traveled to and fro about the great room.
"If this goes on," he said, "I shall have to ask a favor of somebody." His quick look, with its suggestion of mockery, rested on O'Neill. "And that would be dreadful," he concluded.
"If it's anything I can do, I'll do it, of course," said O'Neill awkwardly.
He aided Buscarlet to set the bed to rights and change the pillow- cover, conscious that Regnault was watching him all the time with a smile.
"One should have a nun here," remarked Buscarlet. "They come for so much a day, and do everything."
"Yes," said Regnault;—"everything. Who could stand that!"
He shifted in his bed cautiously, for he knew that any movement might provoke another spasm.