“Wrong? Wrong, Sir Nigel! Merciful God!” He wrung his hands helplessly. “It’s best you should hear it from me, Sir Nigel. Our dear lady is dying. We thought she was gone when we found her. But the doctor brought remedies in his bag. He revived her. She is conscious again, and knows us. But he says she can’t last through the day.” He leapt from the bed. “Quick! My clothes.” “For God’s sake, sir, be calm! For her ladyship’s sake; for all our sakes. It will seem like madness. Don’t do aught that might disturb her peace. The country side will ring with it. They have talked for years. They will say she died insane.” “My clothes, Thomas.” “Those you came in are soaked with sea water, Sir Nigel. But we have plenty here. Her ladyship had them all kept ready, and always brushed and aired.” He went to a chest of drawers and fumbled blindly. “Your flannels, Sir Nigel? She would like best to see you in what you wore that day. The coat you flung to her as you ran down the beach, she keeps in her own room. But here are others all complete.” With trembling hands, he laid them on a chair. “All you need is here, Sir Nigel.” “Then leave me, Thomas. But come back in five minutes.” He dressed rapidly. “Dying! My wife dying! She shall not die. By heaven, she shall not die!” As he slipped on the coat, there came a quick rap on the door. “Yes; come in! Now, Thomas——” Ah, the doctor. With an effort he pulled himself together. “Good morning.” “So you’re up and dressed? I thought you would soon be all right when that stupor of exhaustion passed into natural sleep. You’ll do. I did what I could for you, Mr.——” “My name is Luke Sparrow.” “Ah, Mr. Sparrow. But my hands were full, from the first, with poor Lady Tintagel. Sad business, very. And the daughter and son-in-law went off motoring early this morning a four days’ tour, leaving no address. Haven’t traced them yet. Stupid thing to do. Not that she wants them, poor lady. And the quieter she is, the better. But she is asking for you.” The little man jerked over to the window, and fussed with the blind cord. “Is there immediate danger?”