’You see, Doctor Toole, it won’t do, waiting.  The thing’s too momentous.’

And so they walked up stairs and into the drawing-room, and sent their compliments to Mrs. Sturk, who came down in deshabille, with her things pinned about her, and all over smiles.  Poor little woman!  Toole had not observed until now how very thin she had grown.

’He’s going on delightfully, gentlemen; he drank a whole cup of tea, weak of course, Doctor Toole, as you bid me; and he eat a slice of toast, and liked it, and two Naples biscuits, Mr. Lowe, and I know he’ll be delighted to see you.’

‘Very good, Madam, very good,’ said Toole.

’And he’s looking better already.  He waked out of that sweet sleep not ten minutes after you left this morning.’

‘Ay, he was sleeping very quietly,’ said Toole to Lowe.  ’May we go up, Ma’am?’

’Oh! he’ll be overjoyed, gentlemen, to see you, and ’twill do him an infinity of good.  I can scarce believe my eyes.  We’ve been tidying the study, the maid and I, and airing the cushions of his chair;’ and she laughed a delighted little giggle.  ’And even the weather has taken up such beautiful sunshine; everything favourable.’

‘Well, Doctor Sturk,’ said Toole, cheerily, ’we have a good account of you—­a vastly good account, doctor; and, by St. George, Sir, we’ve been tidying—­’

He was going to say the study, but little Mrs. Sturk put her finger to her lip in a wonderful hurry, raising her eyebrows and drawing a breath through her rounded lips, in such sort as arrested the sentence; for she knew how Barney’s wrath always broke out when he thought the women had been in his study, and how he charged every missing paper for a month after upon their cursed meddling.  But Sturk was a good deal gentler now, and had a dull and awful sort of apathy upon him; and I think it was all one to him whether the women had been in the study or not.  So Toole said instead—­

’We’ve been thinking of getting you down in a little while, doctor, if all goes pleasantly; ’tis a lovely day, and a good omen—­see how the sun shines in at the curtain.’

But there was no responsive sunshine upon Sturk’s stern; haggard face, as he said very low—­still looking on the foot-board—­’I thank you, doctor.’

So after a few more questions, and a little bit of talk with Mrs. Sturk, they got that good lady out of the room, and said Lowe to the patient—­

’I’m sorry to trouble you, Dr. Sturk, but there’s a weighty matter at which you last night hinted; and Dr. Toole thought you then too weak; and in your present state, I would not now ask you to speak at any length, were the matter of less serious moment.’

‘Yes, Sir,’ said Sturk, but did not seem about to speak any more; and after a few seconds, Lowe continued.

’I mean, Dr. Sturk, touching the murder of Mr. Beauclerc, which you then said was committed by the same Charles Archer, who assaulted you in the park.’