The Jewel of Seven Stars

ange Ins

ght. A little way off, between the bed and the safe, sat Dr. Winchester alert and wakeful, but looking strange and almost comic with the respirator over mouth and nose. As I stood in the doorway l

doubts, conjectures; but I did not lose myself, as on last night, in trains of thought. The sense of the present was ever with me, and I really felt as should a sentry on guard. Thinking is not a slow process; and when it is earnest the time can pass quickly. It seem

ly in the morning; unless, of course, I am s

till remained outside; but every few minutes looked into the room. This was rather a form than a matter of utili

he had her respirator in her hand, but before putting it on, asked me if anything special had occurred since she had gone to lie down. I answered in a whisper-there was no loud talking in the house tonight-that all was safe, w

only seemed to emphasize the blackness of the shadows. These presently began to seem, as on last night, to have a sentience of their own. I did not myself feel in the least sleepy; and each time I went softly over to look at the patient, which I did about every

lliant than at first. The green edging of the lamp-shade became like Maori greenstone rather than emerald. The sounds of the night without the h

ling came over me. I could see from Miss Trelawny's movement as she looked round, that she also had some new sensatio

y hand down hastily and touched the furry coat of Silvio. With a very faint far-away sound of a snarl he turned and scratched at me. I felt blood on my hand. I rose gently and came over to the bedside. Miss Trelawny, too, had stood up and was looking behind h

n my arms and rushed over to the door, threw it

p! H

servants, both men and women. Immediately Mrs. Grant came near enough, I placed Miss Trelawny in her arms, and rushed back

left arm, bare save for the bandages, stretched out. Close by his side was a leaf-shaped Egyptian knife which had lain amongst the

room accurately, whilst the Nurse and two of the servants lifted the wounded man back to bed; but no sign or clue could we ge

ng. I did not know wh

y cried out to me, as I placed my hand on the be

rgotten Silvio's scratch. As I looked at it, the recollection came back to me; but before I could say a word Miss Tr

n she laid my hand down gently but quic

followed her, and found Silvio sitting in his baske

enough; but why

aws in her hand; but the cat seemed to resent it and snarled. At that Mrs. Gr

until a while ago. He came there just after you had gone to master's room. Nurse says that Nurse Kennedy is

said Miss Trelawny; and

father, with her brows wrinkled. Then, turning

be men who have devoted themselves to this branch of science. Such a man would have more knowledge and more experience; and his knowledge and experience might help to throw light on poor Fat

ited Nurse Kennedy. When he saw her, a hopeful look came into his eyes. Taking a towel, he dipped a corner of it in cold wat

atest. She may be dizzy and distraught at first, or

d Doctor Winchester asked me as to what had occurred. I told him fully, giving exactly every detail so far as I could remember. Throughout my narrative, which did not take long, however, he kept asking me questions as to who had been present and the orde

ave a consultation on this case." She answere

ioned it. I quite agree.

ked. "Any one to whom your Father is

My dear Father should have all the help that can be had; and I shall be deeply obl

er a surgical experimentalist than a practitioner. Then there is Zammerfest of Uppsala, and Fenelon of the University of Paris, and Morfessi of Naples. These, of course, are in addition to our own men, Morrison of Aberdeen and Richardson of Birmingham. But before them all I would put Frere of King's College. Of all th

ve Doctor Frere-by the way, is he 'Doctor' or 'Mi

and he spoke with greater ease a

early as it is possibly to see him, and shall ask hi

er let me dre

othing,"

ted; forthwith he began to dress my hand. He examined with a magnifying-glass the several parallel wounds, and compared them with t

io slips in-and out-ju

intelligibly. But she was still hazy in her thoughts; and could not remember anything that had happened on the prev

felt my heart sink when from the landing I saw them in the hall below; I knew that Miss Trela

ersons. The mere flash of his piercing eyes, or the set of his resolute mouth, or the lowering of his great eyebrows, seemed to compel immediate and willing obedience to his wishes. Somehow,

hough she was ignorant of later matters, gave full and satisfactory answers to all Doctor Frere's questions relating to her patient up to the time she became unconscious. Then they went to the study, where they remained so long, and their voices raised in heated discuss

his face was pale, but with that kind of pallor which looked like a reaction. It gave me the idea that it had been red not long before. Sir Jame

e appears to be suffering from a marked attack of catalepsy. At present nothing can be done, except to sustain his strength. The treatment of my friend Doctor Winchester is mainly such as I approve of; and I am confident that should any slight change arise he will be able to deal with it satisfactorily. It is an interesting case-most interesting; and should any new or abnormal development arise I shall be happy to come at any time. There is just one thing to which I wish to call your attention; and I put it to you, Miss Trelawny, directly, since it is your responsibility. Doctor Winchester informs me that you are not yourself free in the matter, but are bound by an instruction given by your Father in case just such a condition of things should arise. I would strongly advise that the patient be removed to another room; or, as an alternative, that those mummies and all such things should be removed from his chamber. Why, it's enough to put any man into an abnormal condition, to have such an assemblage of horrors round him, and to breathe the atmosphere which they exhale. You have evidence already of how such mephitic odour may

e rumble of his carriage wheels died away

condition of not giving up the case; but all the same he is right as to treatment. He does not understand that there is something odd about this spe

give up the case; or are you willing to c

r give it up, so long as life is left to him or any of us!"

s much interested in it as you are, he would not stand on such punctilio. Of course, I am only too anxious about my poor Father; and if I can see a way to meet either of Sir James Frere's conditions, I shall do so. I shall

to come and see her and to bring with him any papers which might throw any light on the subject. She sent the

ields; but it seemed endlessly long when waiting for someone else to take it. All things, h

e, and when he had learned sufficient o

go with you into particulars r

rance of his meaning. "Why not now?" He looked at m

e not

I want him to know more." The solicitor was a little disconcerted, a thing which those knowi

r Father's wishes!-Confidenc

ere was a tinge of red in he

Father's letter, written to be shown to me only in extremity. Mr. Ross is a new friend; but he has all my confidence, and I should like him to be present. Unless, of course," she added, "such a thing is forbidden by my Father. Oh! forgive me, Mr. Marvin, if I seem rude; b

nd I have every confidence in your judgment. If you wish, or think it best, we can be alone." I stood up; but Mr. Marvin mad

st, that circumstances were ruled by your Father's own imperative instructions. For, please understand me, his instructions are imperative-most imperative. They are so unyielding that he has given me a Power of Attorney, under which I have undertaken to act, authorising me to see his written wishes carried out.

mewhat distressed; so, thinking that I

brightened; but it fell again as the lawyer answered

rded, and how the grantor made his wishes apparent in such a way as to leave no loophole. It is his own wording, except for certain legal formalities; and I assure you I have seldom seen a more iron-clad document. Even I myself have no power to make the slightest relaxation of t

ess. But your Father had, in all his doings, some purpose of his own which he did not disclose to me. So far as I can see, there is not a word of his instructions that he ha

anything, I promise you I will come without a moment's delay, at any hour of the day or night. There is my private address," he scribbled in his pocket-book as he spoke, "and under it

the door and came in. There was such a look of distress in he

Grant? What is it?

have talked the matter over among themselves; the butler has spoken for the rest. He says as how they are willin

son do th

e, the upper housemaid, miss, who is not with the rest but stops on; and she tells me co

n paroxysm of fear; there was a fixed idea of which this was a confirmation. For myself, it seemed as if my brain had found a voice. B