“Will the poor fellow recover consciousness?” he asked.
“That is quite possible,” the doctor replied. “He has a splendid constitution, and possibly may linger on for some days. He can take no direct nourishment, of course. But medical science can do so much nowadays in the way of injections. I shouldn’t be at all surprised if my patient were able to give an account of what has happened. But in all human probability, he will be in his grave before the week is out. And now, will you leave it to me to obtain a nurse, or would you like to send one of your own?”
On the whole, it would be better to leave it to the doctor, Ravenspur thought. An hour or so passed, and the nurse was established in the sickroom. It was now getting towards daylight, but no one thought of rest or sleep. There was nothing for it but to make the best of the extraordinary situation; nothing for it but to remain where they were and explain as well as they could to the servants when they came back in the morning. Vera flung herself down upon a couch in the drawing-room, and closed her eyes. She was tired and worn out, though it seemed to her that sleep was impossible. Nevertheless, when she came to herself again the sunshine was streaming into the room, the birds were singing noisily in the trees outside. On the lawn Ravenspur was walking up and down in grave consultation with Venables. Presently Vera saw Walter join the group. He looked dreadfully white and haggard; his head was bent, and his step was shaky. A thrill of thankfulness passed over her. She had never hoped to see him walk again. As Vera left the drawing-room and crossed the hall, a maidservant looked at her curiously. Vera advanced with a smile.
“I am afraid we have greatly distressed you,” she said. “But perhaps you already know exactly what has happened?”
“His lordship explained to me, miss,” the girl said timidly. “I understand that my new master is a friend of yours. You were coming down to see him, and a great dog attacked him.”
“Yes; that is so,” Vera said, relieved to find that she had to make no prevarication. “And now, if you will be so good, you might show me to a bedroom where I can wash.”
The maid seemed to anticipate such a request, for she led the way up the stairs to one of the bedrooms. Vera wondered what the maid would have said could she only have looked into the room at the top of the house under the roof. Feeling much fresher and brighter from the touch of cold water, Vera went down and joined the other two in the garden.
“I am glad to see you looking none the worse for your adventure,” Ravenspur said. “I have managed to convince the servants that our appearance here is quite natural. One had to tell a few falsehoods, but in the circumstances it was necessary. Still, servants are suspicious creatures, and I don’t want their curiosity to go too far. Already they are wondering where the mistress of the house is, so that there is no help for it, and we must have your mother here without delay. Do you happen to know her London address?”
“No; I don’t,” Vera replied. “I saw her for an hour last night.”
“What, down here?” Walter exclaimed.
“Yes; she came here on purpose to see me. She only stayed a little time, because I understood that it was necessary for her to be back in London again. But I would rather not talk about that if you don’t mind. You will quite understand why.”
Walter murmured something in reply. Then his face brightened.
“You are quite right, uncle,” he said. “It is absolutely necessary that the Countess Flavio should be here at once. We can get her address from Mrs. Delahay. If you like I will go up myself.”
“Do you feel equal to it?” Vera asked anxiously.
“Oh, I’m all right now,” Walter said, “with the exception of a certain shakiness and a splitting headache. It must have been a pretty severe dose that our interesting friend gave me last night. But I don’t think there is any occasion to worry about me.”
“Then we will have some breakfast, and get up to London at once,” Venables said, in his quick, decisive fashion. “We can leave Lord Ravenspur and Miss Rayne here till we come back. I don’t think that Lord Ravenspur has anything to fear from his enemy now.”
Breakfast was despatched without delay, and immediately Venables and Walter left for London. The house was now quiet and still, for as yet practically nothing was known as to the cause of Silva’s action, and public curiosity still slept.
It was some time after luncheon before Vera had a chance of speaking to the nurse, with an inquiry as to how the patient was getting on. The nurse smiled in reply.
“He is slightly better,” she explained; “in fact, he is as well as he is likely to be. He has been conscious for the last half hour. He seems to want something, only I can’t understand what it is. We may be able to find out when the doctor comes.”
XLI
A Ray of Light
It was no difficult matter to find Mrs. Delahay, who, when the late startling developments were laid before her, made no demur in giving her sister’s address. Maria Delahay was looking just as pale and haggard as usual. It seemed impossible to rouse her from the state of apathy into which she had fallen. When the two friends were standing on the steps of the hotel they ran against Inspector Dallas.
“Any fresh news?” Walter asked.
“Well, no,” Dallas admitted. “I am simply waiting on
