As the guests came down-stairs, the foreign officers stood in the hall, occasionally making themselves useful, by assisting to put on the ladies' hoods, cloaks, or shawls. The young Baron de Ruvigny alone lingered. He had seen Lucy leave the room, and he became anxious, finding that she did not return. He asked the Colonel where she was. Just then a maid-servant came down with a message from Madam Everard, requesting Colonel Everard to come to his daughter's room. "What is the matter?" asked the young Baron of the servant, as the Colonel hurried off. "Our mistress is very ill, very ill indeed, and I fear there's no hope of her recovery," answered the girl. The young Baron entreated that he might be allowed to remain till the doctor had seen her. Paul had found Dr. Jessop at home. He accompanied him back at full speed. He looked very grave after he had seen Miss Lucy. "I should like my friend Dr. Musgrave to see her. If the skill of any man can avail, I am sure that his will, but it would take two days to get him down here, and this is a case demanding immediate remedies." Paul Gauntlett had come in with the doctor, and was waiting outside Miss Lucy's room to hear his opinion. "I will do it, sir!" he exclaimed, "if you will tell me where Dr. Musgrave is to be found; I will be off and bring him down as soon as possible." "Stay, friend," said Dr. Jessop; "while you are taking some refreshment and getting your horse ready, I will write out a state of the case, and if Dr. Musgrave cannot come he will send by you such remedies as he may consider efficacious." Paul scarcely liked the delay. He would have started on the back of the first horse he could lead out of the stable without thinking of food for himself. Within ten minutes he was galloping along through the forest. He could get to Redbridge, and Southampton, and so on to Winchester before daybreak. He could there get a fresh horse. He would distance any post-chaise; he was sure of that. He had left orders to have a fresh horse brought on for him to Southampton. He resolved not to waste a moment till he had brought the remedy for his dear Miss Lucy. His horse carried him nobly; he seemed to be aware that it was a matter of life and death. Paul had been with his master in London on several occasions. He knew the road, and being an old campaigner, without difficulty found his way to the doctor's house. The doctor was out visiting patients. Paul fretted and fumed more than he had ever done in his life before. The servant was disposed to shut the door in his face, and send him to an inn. "That will not do, master," said Paul; "I must wait here till the doctor comes back, and you must put up my horse, and rub him down, and feed him well. It's a matter of life and death;" and Paul expatiated on the youth and beauty and gentle disposition of his young mistress, till the tears rolled down his cheek, and he almost made the doctor's somewhat morose butler weep with him.