I got Prichard to send his son, without a moment's delay, to Cardyllion, to bring Dr. Mervyn, and as they got the bleeding man on towards Plas Ylwd, I, in a state of high excitement, walked swiftly homeward, hoping to reach Malory before the declining light failed altogether. CHAPTER XXI. THE PATIENT AT PLAS YLWD. I got home just as the last broad beam of the setting sun was spent, and twilight over-spread churchyard and manor-house, sea and land, with its grey mantle. Lights were gleaming from the drawing-room window as I approached; a very welcome light to me, for it told me that Laura Grey had come down, and I was longing to tell her my story. I found her, as I expected, seated quietly at our tea-table, and saw, in her surprised and eager looks, how much she was struck by the excitement which mine exhibited, as, without waiting to take off my hat or coat, I called on her to listen, and stumbled and hurried through the opening of my strange story. I had hardly mentioned the sudden appearance of Mr. Marston, when Laura Grey rose with her hands clasped: "Was any one shot? For God's sake, tell me quickly!" I described all I had seen. She pressed her hand hard to her heart. "Oh! he has killed him--the villain! His threats are always true--his promises never. Oh! Ethel, darling, he has been so near me, and I never dreamed it." "Who? What is it, Laura? Don't, darling, be so frightened; he's not killed--nobody's killed. I daresay it is very trifling, and Doctor Mervyn is with him by this time." "I am sure he's badly wounded; he has killed him. He has hated him so long, he would never have left him till he had killed him." She was growing quite distracted; I, all the time, doing my utmost to re-assure her. "What is his name?" at length I asked. The question seemed to quiet her. She looked at me, and then down; and then again at me.