anger to his life?" asked Sir
Marmaduke, with an effort to appear calm as he spoke.

"Indeed I do, then," said Roach, firmly; "the mischiefs done already."

"He's not dead?" said Sir Marmaduke, almost breathless in his terror.

"Not dead; but the same as dead: effusion will carry him off some time
to-morrow."

"And can you leave him in this state? Is there nothing to be done?
Nothing you could suggest?" cried the old man, scarcely able to repress
his indignant feeling at the heartless manner of the doctor.

"There's many a thing one might try," said Roach, not noticing the
temper of the question, "for the boy is young; but for the sake of a
chance, how am I to stay away from my practice and my other patients?
And indeed slight a prospect as he has of recovery, my own of a fee is
slighter still. I think I've all the corn in Egypt in my pocket this
minute," said he, slapping his hand on his purse: "one of the late
king's guineas, wherever they had it lying by till now."

"I am overjoyed to have met you, sir," said Sir Marmaduke hastily, and
by a great exertion concealing the disgust this speech suggested. "I
wish for an opinion about my daughter's health--a cold, I fancy--but
to-morrow will do better. Could you return to Mr. O'Donoghue's tonight?
I have not a bed to offer you here. This arrangement may serve both
parties, as I fervently hope something may yet be done for the youth."

"I'll visit Miss Travers in the morning with pleasure."

"Don't leave him, sir, I entreat you, till I send over; it will be quite
time enough when you hear from me: let the youth be your first care,
doctor; in the mean while accept this slight retainer, for I beg you to
consider your time as given to me now," and with that he pressed several
guineas into the willing palm of the doctor.

As Roach surveyed the shining gold, his quick cunning divined the old
baronet's intentions, and with a readiness long habit had perfected, he
said--

"The case of danger before all others, any day. I'll turn about at once
and see what can be done for the lad."

Sir Marmaduke leaned towards him, and said some words hastily in a low
whispering voice.

"Never fear--never fear, Sir Marmaduke," was the reply, as he mounted to
the seat of his vehicle, and turned the pony's head once more down the
glen.

"Lose no time, I beseech you," cried the old man, waving his hand in
token of adieu; nor was the direction unheeded, for, using his whip
with redoubl