Page:HG Wells--secret places of the heart.djvu/282

270 Richmond’s face. He seemed to regard the matter as settled. He closed his eyes.

For a time Dr. Martineau desisted. He went to the window and turned to look again at the impassive figure on the bed. Did Sir Richmond fully understand? He made a step towards his patient and hesitated. Then he brought a chair and sat down at the bedside.

Sir Richmond opened his eyes and regarded him with a slight frown.

“A case of pneumonia,” said the doctor, “after great exertion and fatigue, may take very rapid and unexpected turns.”

Sir Richmond, cheek on pillow, seemed to assent.

“I think if you want to be sure that Lady Hardy sees you again——... If you don’t want to take risks about that——... One never knows in these cases. Probably there is a night train.”

Sir Richmond manifested no surprise at the warning. But he stuck to his point. His voice was faint but firm. “Couldn’t make up anything to say to her. Anything she’d like.”

Dr. Martineau rested on that for a little while. Then he said: “If there is anyone else?”

“Not possible,” said Sir Richmond, with his eyes on the ceiling.

“But to see?”

Sir Richmond turned his head to Dr. Martineau. His face puckered like a peevish child’s. “They’d