“That was the reason you gave up the Gemmi so easily.”

“It was.  But, as I say, it can’t be helped now, and no harm can be done by going to see whether they are really so ill.”

“Brownlow is the name.  I wonder if they are any relation to a man I once knew—-a lecturer at one of the hospitals?”

“Not likely.  These are very rich people, with a great house in Hyde Park regions, and a place in the country.  They are always asking Cecil there; only my mother does not fancy it.  It is not a matter of charity after the first stress.  They can easily have advice from England, or anywhere they like.”

By this time they reached the hotel, and John alighted briskly enough, and explained the state of affairs in a few words.

“My dear boy,” said Dr. Medlicott, “I’ll go up at once, as soon as I can get at our travelling medicine-chest.  Luckily we have what is most likely to be useful.”

“Thank you,” said Johnny, and therewith he turned dizzy, and reeled against the wall.

“It is nothing—-nothing,” he said, as the doctor having helped him into a sitting-room, laid his hand on his pulse.  “Don’t delay about me!  I shall be all right in a minute.”

“They are getting down the boxes.  No time is lost,” said the doctor, quietly.  “See whether they can let us have some soup, Cecil.”

“I couldn’t swallow anything,” said Johnny, imploringly.

“Have you had any breakfast this morning?”

“Yes, a bit of bread and a drink of milk.  There was not time for more.”

“And you had been searching all one night, and nursing the next?”

“Most of it,” was the confession.  “But I shall be all right-—if there is any pony I could ride upon.”

“You shall by-and-by; but first, Reeves,” as a servant with grizzled hair and moustache brought in a neatly-fitted medicine-chest, “I give this young gentleman into your care.  He is to lie down on my bed for half an hour, and Mr. Evelyn is not to go near him.  Then, if he is awake—-”

“If-—” ejaculated John.

“Give him a basin of soup-—Liebig, if you can’t get anything here.”

“Liebig!” broke out John.  “Oh, please take some.  There’s nothing up there but old goat, and nothing to drink but milk and lemonade, like beastly hair-oil; and Jock hates milk.”

“Never fear,” said Dr. Medlicott; “Liebig is going, and a packet of tea.  Mrs. Evelyn does not send us out unprovided.  If you eat your soup like a good boy, you may then ride up-—not walk-—unless you wish to be on your mother’s hands too.”

“She’s my aunt; but it is all the same.  Tell her I’m coming.”

“I shall go with you, doctor,” said Cecil.  “I must know about Brownlow.”

“Much good you’ll do him!  But I’d rather leave this fellow in Fordham’s charge than yours.”

So Johnny had no choice but to obey, growling a little that it was all nonsense, and he should be all right in five minutes, but that expectation continued, without being realised, for longer than Johnny knew.  He awoke with a start to find the Liebig awaiting him; and Lord Fordham’s eyes fixed on him, with (though neither understood it) the generous, though melancholy envy of an invalid youth for a young athlete.