The old chap was trembling all over.
'My lord, I--I'm delighted to see you, if I may make so bold as to say so, but I--I don't understand. It's been given out that your lordship is dead.'
'I'm not dead. As you'll find if you don't soon feed me. Where's every one--or any one?'
'The Marquis has gone to Cressland.'
'Who's gone to Cressland?'
'Your lordship's brother. I--I've got in the way of calling him the Marquis.'
'Then get out of it. What's he gone to Cressland for?'
'Well, my lord, it's not generally known in the house, but I believe he's gone to look at your lordship's coffin.'
'To look at my what?'
'At the coffin, my lord, which your lordship's supposed to be in.'