result which will place
him amongst the foremost discoverers or investigators of his age. And
now, just at the time when any hour might bring him success, he is
stricken down!"

He stopped, seemingly overcome with emotion. After a time he recovered
himself and went on:

"Again, do not misunderstand me as to another point. I have said that
Mr. Trelawny has made much confidence with me; but I do not mean to
lead you to believe that I know all his plans, or his aims or objects.
I know the period which he has been studying; and the definite
historical individual whose life he has been investigating, and whose
records he has been following up one by one with infinite patience.
But beyond this I know nothing. That he has some aim or object in the
completion of this knowledge I am convinced. What it is I may guess;
but I must say nothing. Please to remember, gentlemen, that I have
voluntarily accepted the position of recipient of a partial confidence.
I have respected that; and I must ask any of my friends to do the same."

He spoke with great dignity; and he grew, moment by moment, in the
respect and esteem of both Doctor Winchester and myself. We understood
that he had not done speaking; so we waited in silence till he
continued:

"I have spoken this much, although I know well that even such a hint as
either of you might gather from my words might jeopardise the success
of his work. But I am convinced that you both wish to help him--and
his daughter," he said this looking me fairly between the eyes, "to the
best of your power, honestly and unselfishly. He is so stricken down,
and the manner of it is so mysterious that I cannot but think that it
is in some way a result of his own work. That he calculated on some
set-back is manifest to us all. God knows! I am willing to do what I
can, and to use any knowledge I have in his behalf. I arrived in
England full of exultation at the thought that I had fulfilled the
mission with which he had trusted me. I had got what he said were the
last objects of his search; and I felt assured that he would now be
able to begin the experiment of which he had often hinted to me. It is
too dreadful that at just such a time such a calamity should have
fallen on him. Doctor Winchester, you are a physician; and, if your
face does not belie you, you are a clever and a bold one. Is there no
way which you can devise to wake this man from his unnatural stupor?"

There was a pause; t