The sight of the
lamp-lit room brought back so abruptly all that he had forgotten that he
stood for a moment unable to move. He remembered everything, the hour,
the minute even, what point they had reached, and what was to come.
He cursed himself for making believe for a minute that things were
different from what they are. The night was now harder to face than
ever.
Unable to stay in the empty drawing-room, he wandered out and sat on the
stairs half-way up to Rachel's room. He longed for some one to talk
to, but Hirst was asleep, and Ridley was asleep; there was no sound
in Rachel's room. The only sound in the house was the sound of Chailey
moving in the kitchen. At last there was a rustling on the stairs
overhead, and Nurse McInnis came down fastening the links in her cuffs,
in preparation for the night's watch. Terence rose and stopped her. He
had scarcely spoken to her, but it was possible that she might confirm
him in the belief which still persisted in his own mind that Rachel was
not seriously ill. He told her in a whisper that Dr. Lesage had been and
what he had said.
"Now, Nurse," he whispered, "please tell me your opinion. Do you
consider that she is very seriously ill? Is she in any danger?"
"The doctor has said--" she began.
"Yes, but I want your opinion. You have had experience of many cases
like this?"
"I could not tell you more than Dr.
Pages:
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502