"A week next Tuesday," said the doctor. "Galvanism has preserved you from decomposition."
M'Garry uttered a heavy groan, and looked up piteously at his two tormentors. Murphy, fearful the shock might drive him out of his mind, said, "Perhaps, doctor, you can preserve his life altogether: you have kept him alive so long?"
"I'll try," said Growling; "hand me that tumbler."
Murphy handed him a tumbler full of water, and the doctor gave it to M'Garry, and desired him to try and drink it; he put it to his lips and swallowed a little drop.
"Can you taste it?" asked the doctor.
"Isn't it water?" said M'Garry.
"You see how dull the nerves are yet," said Growling to Murphy; "that's aquafortis and assafœtida, and he can't taste it; we must give him another touch of the battery. Hold him up, while I go into the next room, and immerse the plates."
The doctor left the bed-room, and came back with a hot poker and some lemon-juice and water.
"Turn him gently round," said he to Murphy, "while I conduct the wires."
His order was obeyed; and giving M'Garry a touch of the hot poker, the apothecary roared like a bull.