"Didn't Dr. Wentworth tell you? Mr. Horran fell down in an epileptic fit and bit his tongue. We got him to bed, and sent for Dr. Wentworth, who insisted upon wiring for you." "Quite so--quite so. Wentworth knows that I am deeply interested in this most mysterious case. What do these symptoms mean? Whence do they arise? I wish--" he cast a look on the girl, "no, I won't suggest a post-mortem again. All the same only a post-mortem can explain these things." "Oh, doctor, do you think he will die?" "No! no! There, there," the doctor patted her hand, "don't cry. Horran may go on living for the next twenty years--as he is only fifty-four, I don't see why he shouldn't." "Then you can't see death?" "I can't see death, or life, or anything, but a series of most puzzling symptoms, which neither I, nor Wentworth, nor the whole College of Surgeons can understand. However, we'll drop the subject just now, and think of tea." "Oh, doctor, how can you think of food when--" "When my patient is sleeping quietly. Why shouldn't I? There's nothing to be done until he awakes. Then I'll make another examination, although I don't expect I'll learn anything. I return to town," Jerce consulted a handsome gold watch, "by the seven train." "It is very good of you to have come down so promptly." "Not at all. I would go to the ends of the earth at a moment's notice, to attend to so interesting a case. Ha! ha! Cold-blooded science again, Clarice, you see. Come, come, let us say that I came willingly to see my old and valued friend, Henry Horran." "Doctor, you are a great man." "Flattering--very flattering. And why?" "Great men, I have always read and heard, will never spare anyone in their aim to attain their ends." "Humph. That is not quite so flattering. And my ends?" "You want to find out the cause of this trouble." "Naturally. I can't cure Horran unless I do." "Yes. But you are more curious to learn the reason for the disease than to cure him." "You wrong me," said the doctor quickly, "and to prove that you wrong me, I shall assuredly cure Horran, if it be in the power of man to set him on his legs again. Now you had better go and have some tea and toast. I'll return to Horran's room, and see Wentworth when he comes in." "I can't eat, doctor," said Clarice, making no motion to obey. "That is foolish. Starving yourself will not cure your guardian. I dare say you are fond of him. Eh?" "Have you known me more than twenty years to ask such a question? Of course, I am very fond of uncle Henry. He is the best of men." "I agree with you there," said Jerce, earnestly, "but I don't think your brother agrees with you. That is strange." "Why so, doctor?" "You and Ferdy are twins,--twins may have the same likes and dislikes." Clarice laughed. "For a clever medical man that is certainly not a clever speech. Twins are often alike in looks, and entirely different in disposition."