"Yes, Mrs Pottles," said the doctor, compressing his lips, "it is, I fear, a serious case. But we must do what we can, Mrs Pottles--we must do what we can." "Of course we must, sir!" exclaimed the landlady. "And what shall us do first?" "Let me see; another pillow, I think, Mrs Pottles," said the doctor, not heeding the question. "He will not be able to leave here for some time to come." Mrs Pottles sighed; and then from time to time supplied the doctor with bandages, water, sponge, and such necessaries as he needed; when, the patient presenting an appearance of recovering from his swoon, they watched him attentively. "He won't die this time, Mrs Pottles," said the doctor, with authority. "Lawk a deary me! no, sir, I hope not," said the landlady--"a fine, nice, handsome young fellow like he! He'll live and break some 'arts yet, I'll be bound. It's all very well for old folks like us, sir, to die; but I shouldn't like to see him go that-a-way--just when out taking his pleasure, too." Mr Tiddson did not consider himself one of the "old folks," so did not reply. "A poor dear!" said Mrs Pottles. "I wonder who he is? There'll be more 'n one pair o' bright eyes wet because of his misfortun', I know. You've no idee, sir, how like he is to my Tom--him as got into that bit of trouble with the squire, sir." "Pooh, woman!--not a bit. Tchsh!" The raised finger of the doctor accompanied his ejaculation, as the patient unclosed his eyes, muttered a little, and then, turning his head, seemed to sink into a state of half sleep, half stupor. The doctor sat for some time before speaking, frowning severely at the landlady, and then impatiently pulling down the blind to get rid of half a dozen lads, who were spoiling the symmetry of their noses against the window. "I s'pose you have no idea who he is?" said the doctor at last. "Not the leastest bit in the world, sir. They do say they've had a tremenjus run to-day. But perhaps we shall have some of the gents coming back this way, and they may know him." "Precisely so, Mrs Pottles; but you'd better feel in his pockets, and we may be able to find out where his friends are, and so send them word of his condition." "Lawk a deary me, sir! But wouldn't it be wrong for me to be peeping and poking in his pockets? But how so be if _you_ wish it, sir, I'll look." "I _don't_ wish it, Mrs Pottles; but it is our duty to acquaint his friends, so you had better search." Now Mrs Pottles's fingers were itching to make an examination; and doubtless, had the doctor left, her first act would have been to "peep and poke," as she termed it; so, taking up garment after garment, she drew out a handsome gold watch and seal chain with an eagle crest; then a cigar-case bearing the same crest, and the letters "C.Y.;" and lastly a plain porte-monnaie, containing four sovereigns and some silver.