se proper meals and ordinary comforts----"

"I can see to all that. Thank you for your advice."

"A good and reliable cook is also necessary--who understands invalid
cooking--all that is most important."

"And shall be attended to at once. Is there anything else?"

"Perfect rest and quiet of course are the chief things."

"I shan't worry him, you may be sure, and no one else is likely to
come near him."

"Except the police," remarked the doctor dryly.

"The police?"

The grave events of the night before, and those that were ready to
follow one another in grim array for the next few days had almost fled
from Luke's memory in face of the other--to him more
serious--calamity--his uncle's illness.

"Oh! Ah, yes!" he said vaguely. "I had forgotten."

"The nurses," rejoined the doctor with a pompousness which somehow
irritated Luke, "will have my authorization to forbid any one having
access to Lord Radclyffe for the present. I will write out the
certificate now, and this you can present to any one who may show a
desire to exercise official authority in the matter of interviewing my
patient."

"I daresay that I can do all that is necessary at the inquest and so
on--Lord Radclyffe need not be worried."

"He mustn't be worried. To begin with he would not know any one, and
he is wholly unable to answer questions."

"That settles the matter of course. So, if you will write the
necessary certificate, I'll see the police authorities at once on the
subject. Would Lord Radclyffe know me, do you think?" added the young
man after a slight pause of hesitancy.

"Well," replied the doctor evasively, "I don't think I would worry him
to-day. We'll see how he gets on."

"He'll probably ask for me."

"That is another matter, and if he does, you must of course see him.
But unless there is a marked improvement during the day, he won't ask
for any one."

Luke was silent a moment or two while the doctor sat down at the
writing table and sought for pen and ink.

"Very well," he said after awhile, "we'll leave it at that. Lord
Radclyffe--I can promise you this--shall on no account be disturbed
without permission from you. How soon will the nurse arrive?"

"Within the hour. The night nurse will come after tea."

Doctor Newington wrote out and signed the usual medical certificate to
the effect that Lord Radclyffe's state of health demanded perfect
quietude and rest and that he was unable to see any one or to answer
any ques