The sickening dizziness increased, and seemed to develop into an excruciating pain in my throbbing temples. I placed my hand to my head and felt that the veins were standing out hard and knotted, just as though I were exerting every muscle in some feat of strength. Then almost at that very instant I was gripped by a fearful pain in the stomach, as though it were being torn by a thousand needles. A cold sweat stood upon my brow until it rolled down my cheeks in great beads. I tried to shout for help, but my tongue clave to the roof of my mouth, and my voice was thin and weak as a child's. My throat seemed to have contracted. I was altogether helpless. My agony was excruciating, yet I could only await Dick's return. Perhaps he had met a friend, and was lounging in some bar ignorant of my peril. The only doctor I knew in the vicinity was a hospital surgeon who lived a little way down Chancery Lane, over the Safe Deposit Company's vaults. I clenched my teeth to endure the racking, frightful pains by which my body was tortured, and in patience awaited my friend's home-coming. My eyes were closed, for the gas-light was too strong for them. Perhaps I lost consciousness. At any rate I was awakened from a kind of heavy stupor by Dick's tardy entry. "Good God, Urwin!" he gasped. "Why, what's the matter? What's occurred? You're as white as a sheet, man!" "I'm ill," I managed to gasp with extreme difficulty. "Go and get Tweedie--at once!" He stood for a moment looking at me with a frightened expression, then turned and dashed away down the stairs. I remember raising myself, after he had gone, in an endeavour to reach a cupboard where there was some brandy in a bottle, but as I made a step forward all strength let me. I became paralysed, clutched at the table, missed it, and fell headlong to the floor. Then all consciousness became blotted out. I knew no more. How long I remained insensible I have only a very vague idea. It must have been many hours. When, however, I slowly became aware of things about me, I found myself lying upon my own bed partly dressed. I tried to move, but my limbs seemed icy cold and rigid; I tried to think, but my thoughts were at first only a confused jumble of reminiscences. There was a tearing pain across my stomach, and across my brow--a pain that was excruciating. It seemed as though my waist was bound tightly with a belt of wire, while my brain throbbed as if my skull must burst. I opened my eyes, but the bright light of day caused me to close them quickly again. Noises sounded about me, strange and distorted. I distinguished voices, and I knew that I was not alone. Again I opened my eyes. "Thank Heaven! my dear old fellow, you are saved!" cried Dick, whose coat was off, as he bent down eagerly to me, looking with keenest anxiety into my face. "Saved!" I echoed. "What has happened?" for at that moment I recollected little of the past.