It was surely hers - already! He sprang up and
opened the door. Ernestine and Captain Francis were in the hall.
He motioned them to follow him into the room. Ernestine was flushed
and her eyes were very bright. She threw up her veil and faced him
haughtily. "Where is he?" she asked. "I know everything. I insist
upon seeing him at once."
"That," he said coolly, "will depend upon whether he is fit to see
you!"
He rang the bell.
"Tell Miss Fullagher to step this way a moment," he ordered.
"He is in this house, then," she cried. He took no notice. In a
moment a young woman dressed in the uniform of one of the principal
hospitals entered.
"Miss Fullagher," he asked, "how is the patient?"
"We've had a lot of trouble with him, sir," she said significantly.
"He was terrible all last night, and he's very weak this morning.
Is this the young lady, sir?"
"This is the young lady who I told you would want to see him when
you thought it advisable."
The nurse looked doubtful. "Sir Henry is upstairs, sir," she said.
"I had better ask his advice."
Trent nodded and she withdrew. The three were left alone, Ernestine
and Francis remained apart as though by design. Trent was silent.
She returned in a moment or two.
"Sir Henry has not quite finished his examination, sir," she
announced.
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