"Nurse, is it you?" His voice was scarcely more than a whisper. "No, Major Goddard; it is I, Colonel Baker." "Baker?" Goddard spoke half to himself. "Baker? Not Colonel Baker, of the Secret Service?" attempting to rise in bed. "The same, sir, but that need not excite you. Here, let me put this pillow at your back; you might then be more comfortable." Baker leaned over, and lifted Goddard up in his strong arms as Symonds slipped the pillow in place. "Thanks. Who is the other person in the room?" inquired Goddard weakly. "Symonds." "Symonds!" Goddard's eyelids fluttered over his sightless eyes. Baker did not care to break the pause that followed. Suddenly Goddard roused himself. "What can I do for you, Colonel?" "Just answer a few questions as to what happened here yesterday afternoon. I won't keep you talking long." "I--I--am not very strong," faltered Goddard faintly. "You had a nasty fall," sympathized Baker, "and lost a lot of blood before Symonds found you." "Found me! Where?" "Right on this floor, sir," volunteered Symonds. "You gave me an awful turn, sir; for you looked more dead than..."--he stopped abruptly as he met Baker's warning glare ... "alive," he supplemented feebly. At that moment the nurse came in from the sitting room and touched Baker on the shoulder. "You must go at once," she whispered. "You are staying too long. Major Goddard must not be excited." "In a second, nurse." Baker waved her impatiently away, and turned again to Goddard. "Had you and Captain Lloyd been talking long before you fell?" After a prolonged pause came the whisper: "I--I--cannot remember." Nothing daunted, the Secret Service officer pursued his examination. "Did Captain Lloyd tell you that an important despatch, _proving_ Miss Nancy Newton a rebel spy, had been stolen from him by her?" Goddard was so long in answering that Baker glanced anxiously at the silent figure on the bed. Goddard's face matched the whiteness of the pillow case. He must have felt the scrutiny of Baker's searching eyes, for he moved slightly. Again came the same whisper: "I--I--cannot remember." "Now, see here." Baker's voice rose. Goddard held up a shaking hand. "Wait, Colonel," he stammered. "You forget I am ill--faint--perhaps later--" He paused for breath. "Instead of coming to me, why don't you ask Captain Lloyd?" "For the very good reason that Lloyd is dead," returned Baker solemnly. "Dead!" Goddard half rose; then sank back on his pillows, panting from his exertions. "Yes, dead," went on Baker, watching him closely. "Brutally murdered last evening." He paused. "Where?" Goddard's white lips formed the question; the whispered word could hardly be heard. "Here in this room while lying on his bed. Now, Major Goddard, I insist upon knowing..." He spoke to deaf ears; Goddard had fainted away. A firm hand descended on Baker's shoulder, and swung him about face.