Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/276

264 Presently he opened his eyes, and looking Chessingham full in the face, said in a pleasant voice, "Good-night."

"Good-night," responded Chessingham; and before the words were out of his mouth Mr. Romaine had ceased to breathe.

Madame de Fonblanque rushed to the door, as she had been on the point of doing every moment she had been in the room. Bridge followed her, and caught her out in the hall.

"Madam," he said, "I wants to say as I heard what Mr. Romaine said to you about your givin' 'im 'is death blow. Mr. Romaine has been a-dyin' for a month—and it s'prised me he lasted so long. I say this because it 's my dooty."

"Thank you," cried Madame de Fonblanque.

Mrs. Chessingham, Colonel Corbin, and Ethel Maywood were all gathered in the hall when Chessingham came out with a solemn face. Ethel was white and trembling, and felt a strange grief at knowing that Mr. Romaine was no more. There were no tears shed. All of them had at some time received kindnesses from Mr. Romaine, but also all of them had experienced the iron hand under the