"Lady Heyton is in bed--and asleep, I hope, my lord," said Celia; and

reluctantly and with a touch of colour, she added, "I think it would be

better not to disturb her ladyship; she--she is very much upset; very

ill, indeed."

He nodded. "Not to be surprised at!" he said. "I'm feeling pretty seedy

myself. Here, will you come with me and have a glass of wine?"

"No, thank you, my lord," replied Celia; and, all her dislike of him

active again, she left him.

About six o'clock the watchers by the sick bed noticed a change in the

Marquess. His eyelids flickered a moment, his lips moved. Celia, who was

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standing nearest to him, bent over him and made a sign to Mrs. Dexter

and the doctor, and they hastened forward noiselessly. For some time,

the stricken man struggled for speech; then one word passed his lips,

almost inaudibly, "Percy!"

Celia looked at the doctor questioningly. He nodded, and she went out.

She found Heyton in the smoking-room; there was a decanter of brandy in

front of him and his face was flushed; but it went white as she said, as

calmly as she could, "The Marquess has recovered consciousness; he has asked for you, my

lord."

He got up and steadied himself, with one hand on the table, looking at

her with a curious expression in his face: in that instant, it reminded

her of the expression on that of his wife; it was one of absolute

terror. But it was only momentary; he nodded and went out of the room.

Celia was following him, when she caught sight of a small part of the

detective's figure, just inside the sitting-room; she had forgotten him,

but as she went towards him he made a sign as if he understood; indeed,

he waved her away.

Mr. Jacobs waited until Celia had gone; then he went upstairs softly; in

the corridor, near the Marquess's door, he met the doctor, followed by

Mrs. Dexter and the nurse, coming out.

"I beg your pardon," he said. "I was just going up to have another look

at the dressing-room."

The doctor inclined his head. "Don't make any more noise than you can

help," he said. "We have left the Marquess alone with Lord Heyton; you

must do nothing to disturb them."

"Quite so; I'll go up presently," said Mr. Jacobs; and he walked down

the corridor. But when the others had disappeared, he turned quickly and

softly, and entered the dressing-room.




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