administering some medicine he returned to bed. Half
an hour later Burton complained that there was no air, and Lady Burton,
again thoroughly alarmed, rose to call in Dr. Baker once more.

Although Burton was then dying, he said, "Poor chap, don't disturb him."

But Lady Burton instantly summoned Dr. Baker, who on entering pronounced
the situation grave. Lady Burton at once roused the servants and sent in
all directions for a priest; while, assisted by Dr. Baker and Lisa, she
"tried every remedy and restorative," but in vain.

"Oh, Puss," cried Burton, "chloroform--ether--quick!"

"My darling," replied Lady Burton in anguish. "Dr. Baker says it would
kill you. He is doing everything possible."

His breathing then became laboured, and after a brief struggle for air
he cried, "I am dying, I am dead." Lady Burton held him in her arms,
but he got heavier, and presently became insensible. Dr Baker applied an
electric battery to the heart, and Lady Burton kneeling at the bedside,
and holding her husband's hand, prayed her "heart out to God to keep
his soul there (though he might be dead in appearance) till the priest
arrived." But it was in vain. The priest, a Slavonian, named Pietro
Martelani, came in about half-past six. We may regret what followed, but
no one would judge harshly the actions of an agonised woman. Pity for
human suffering must drown all other feelings. The priest looked at the
dead but warm body and asked whether there was still any life. That
the heart and pulsed had ceased to beat, Lady Burton herself afterwards
admitted to her relations, but deceiving herself with the belief that
life still continued in the brain, she cried: "He is alive, but I
beseech you, lose not a moment, for the soul is passing away."

"If," said the Priest, "he is a Protestant, he cannot receive the Holy
Sacrament in this way."

Lady Burton having declared that her husband "had abjured the heresy and
belonged to the Catholic Church," the priest at once administered "the
last comforts."

It was certainly a kind of consolation to the poor lady to feel that her
husband had not departed unhouselled; but it is equally evident that
her mind had given way, for the scenes that presently followed can be
explained only on this assumption. [635]

Dr. Baker at once sent a brief note to Mr. Letchford. Singularly
enough the night before--that is the terrible Sunday night--Miss Daisy
Letchford experienced "a strange instance of telepathy.