“Did he seem well when he came home last night?’

“Jes ‘bout as ujual, marse.  He came in, an’ John he waited on him.  An he ax, ole marse did, ‘was Mrs. Rossay gone?’ W’ich John tole him she were.  Den he ordered dinner to be fotch up.  An’ John he had a pitcher ob hot punch ready.  An’ ole marse drank some.  Den he went in to dinner all by hisself.  An’ young Mark he waited on de table, w’ich he tell me, w’en I ax him dis mornin’, how de ole marse eat much as ujual, wid a good relish.  Den arter dinner he went to de liberairy and sot dere a long time.  Ole John say it were midnight ‘fo’ de ole marse walk up stairs an’ call him to wait on him.”

“Was John the last one who saw my father before he was found unconscious this morning?”

“Hi! yes, young marse, to be sure he were.  De las’ to see de ole marse in healt’ las’ night, an’ de firs’ to fine him dis way dis mornin’.”

“How came he to find his master in this condition?”

“It was dis way.  Yer know, young marse, as dere is two keys to ole marser’s do’, w’ich ole marse keeps one in his room to lock hisse’f in, an’ John keeps one to let hisse’f in wen de ole marse rings for him in de mornin’.”

“Yes; I know.”

“Well, dis mornin’ de ole marse didn’t ring at his ujual hour.  An’ de time passed, an’ de breakfast were ready an’ spilin’.  So I tole John how he better go up an’ see if ole marse was well, how maybe he didn’ feel like gettin’ up an’ might want to take his breakfas’ in bed.  But Lor!  I nebber participated sich a sarious ’tack as dis.  Well, den, John he went an’ rapped soft like.  But he didn’t get no answer.  Den he rap little louder.  But still no answer.  Den John he got scared, awful scared.  Las’ John he plucks up courage, an’ unlocks de do’, slow an’ saf’, an’ goes in on tiptoe to de bedside, an’—­an’—­an’—­dis yer is wot he seen.  He t’ought his ole marse were dead sure, an’ he come howlin’ an’ tumblin’ down to me, an’ tole me so, an’ I called young Mark to follow me, case ole John wa’n’t no good, an’ I run up yere, an’—­an’—­an’ dis yer is wot I foun’!  O’ly he were a layin’ on his lef side, an’ I see he were breavin’ an’ I turn’ him ober on his right, an’ did all I could for him, an’ sent John arter you.”

“I wish the doctor would come,” said Mr. Fabian, anxiously, as he took his father’s hand again and tried to feel the pulse.

The door opened very quietly, and Clarence came into the room.  Fabian beckoned him to approach the bed.

“How is he?” inquired the younger man.

“As you see!  He was found in this condition by his servant this morning.  He has shown no sign of consciousness since,” replied the elder.

“The doctor is below.  Shall he come up now?”

“Certainly.”

Clarence left the room and soon returned with the physician.  After a very brief examination of pulse, temperature, the pupils of the eyes of the patient, prompt measures were taken to relieve the evident pressure on the brain.  The doctor bled the sufferer, who presently opened his eyes, and looked slowly around his bed.  His two sons bent over him.