I told him all I knew, and then ran on to Hallett's to ask him to get me excused at the office. I found him looking very pale, but Linny was not visible; and then I told him about Revitts' state. "It's very strange," he exclaimed. "Linny came home in trouble last night. She said some man had insulted her, and when she called for help a policeman ran up; and she left them struggling together while she made her escape and came home." "Then it must have been Revitts who helped her," I said; and I then told him that I wanted to stay with the poor fellow. "I'll arrange all that for you, Antony," he said quietly; and I made the best of my way back to Caroline Street, to find that poor Revitts had not moved, only kept on muttering where he had been laid by the doctor; and I took the watcher's place, made tea for him, and spoke to him again and again, but without result. The police surgeon came soon after with the inspector I had seen, asked me a few questions as he examined the injuries, and then I saw him tighten his lips. "Hadn't he better be taken to the infirmary, sir?" the inspector asked. "No," was the reply; "he must not be moved." Then, turning to me: "You had better get some one to come and nurse him, my lad," he said; "mother, sister, or somebody. I'll call in again in the evening." I knew from this that the poor fellow must be seriously hurt, and had I wanted confirmation, I had it in the delirious mutterings that now came from his lips. I sat by him in great trouble, wondering what I should do, when the doctor I had fetched called in, who, on learning that the divisional surgeon had been, nodded his satisfaction and turned to go. "Please tell me, sir," I said, "is he very, very bad?" "Well, bad enough, my lad; you see, he has got concussion of the brain, and I daresay he will be ill for some time, but I do not anticipate anything serious. He must have a nurse." As soon as he had gone I sat and thought for a few minutes what I ought to do. Miss Carr was very kind and generous. If I asked her she would pay for a nurse; but no, I would not ask her without first consulting Hallett. He would help me in my difficulty, I felt sure, especially as it was probable that Linny was the girl poor Revitts had protected. But Hallett would not be back till evening, and then perhaps he would--no, he would be sure to come in. I sat thinking, and the landlady came up, full of bewailings about her injured lodger, and in her homely way promised to come and wait on him from time to time. Then a bright thought occurred to me. I would write and tell Mary that Revitts was hurt, for I felt that she ought to know, and hastily taking pen and paper, I wrote her word that my friend was very ill, and asked her to tell me the address of some of his relations, that I might send them word. I did not forget to add a postscript, urging her to secrecy as to my whereabouts, for my dread of Mr Blakeford was as great as ever.