Doctor Mayhew assured me that nothing could be kinder than the manner in which the incumbent spoke of me, and that it was impossible for any man to feel a favour more deeply than he appeared to appreciate the consideration which I had shown for him.  The doctor had been silent as to my actual presence in the vicinity, which, he believed, to have mentioned, would have been to fill the anxious father’s heart with alarms and fears, which, groundless as they were, might be productive of no little mischief.  I acquiesced in the propriety of his silence, and thanked him for his prudence.  Whilst my friend was speaking, I heard a quick and heavy footstep on the stairs, which, causing me to start upon the instant, and hurling sickness to my heart, clearly told, had doubt existed, how strongly apprehension had fixed itself upon me, and how certainly and inextricably I had become connected with the object of my dark and irresistible conceptions.  I had no longer an ear for Doctor Mayhew, but the sense followed the footstep until it reached the topmost stair—­passed along the passage—­and stopped—­suddenly at our door.  Almost before it stopped, the door was knocked at violently—­quickly—­loudly.  Before an answer could be given, the door itself was opened, and Robin rushed in—­scared.

“What is the matter?” I exclaimed, jumping up, and dreading to hear him tell what I felt must come—­another tale of horror—­another crime—­what less than self-destruction?

“He’s gone, sir—­he’s gone!” roared the fellow, white as death, and shaking like an aspen.

“Gone—­how—­who?” enquired the doctor.

“The madman, sir,” answered Robin, opening his mouth, and raising his eyebrows, to exhibit his own praiseworthy astonishment at the fact.

“Go on, man,” said the doctor.  “What have you to say further?  How did it happen?  Quick!”

“I don’t know, sir.  I eat something for dinner as disagreed.  I have been as sleepy as an owl ever since.  We was together in his room, and I just sot down for a minute to think what it could be as I had eaten, when I dozed off directly—­and when I opened my eyes again, not quite a minute arterwards, I couldn’t find him nowheres—­and nobody can’t neither, and we’ve been searching the house for the last half hour.”

“Foolish fellow—­how long was this ago?”

“About an hour, sir.”

The doctor said not another word, but taking a candle from the table, quitted the room, and hurried down stairs.  I followed him, and Robin, almost frightened out of his wits, trod upon my heel and rubbed against my coat, in his eagerness not to be left behind me.  The establishment was, as it is said, at sixes and sevens.  All was disorder and confusion, and hustling into the most remote corner of the common room.  Mr. Williams especially was very much unsettled.  He stood in the rear of every body else, and looked deathly white.  It was he who ejaculated something