"Dr. Rhomboid? Dr. Rhomboid?" The name was familiar to me.
"You are at Trecarrel, sir; Miss Lethbridge insisted on----"
"Miss Lethbridge! Miss Lethbridge!" Then like a flash the veil dropped from my memory. I called to mind the struggle on the beach, the hand-to-hand fight, the plot which I had determined to expose.
"Miss Lethbridge insisted on my being brought here, did she, Simpson?"
"Yes, sir; you see, sir, that man Liddicoat struck you with something heavy. I--I--but there, I mustn't tell you."
"Yes, you must, Simpson; I insist upon knowing everything. I remember all that happened now: I was leaning against the rock waiting, when the dog barked, and the man Liddicoat sprang upon me. I struggled with him for a long time, and then suddenly everything became dark."
"I can't tell you now, sir; but Miss Lethbridge insisted on your being brought here. And really, sir, the road is easier here than it is to our house, and I gave in."
"I don't know, sir. I expect she will be telling you herself as soon as you are strong enough. Then I insisted upon sending for Dr. Rhomboid, and, sir, as Providence would have it, he was staying at the Tolgarrick Manor Hotel. The Squire had heard of it, sir; that was why, as soon as you were brought here...."
I felt that my mind was weakening, and that I had no longer any strength to grasp the things which Simpson was saying. I lost interest in them, too, and I remember falling asleep with the thought in my mind that I was in the house where Isabella Lethbridge had insisted upon bringing me.
I awoke again, and I knew that I was stronger; everything was outlined more clearly to me. Not only the objects by which I was surrounded, but my thoughts seemed more definite. It was now night; the room in which I lay was only illumined by a candle, but I saw everything plainly. Sitting by my side was the nurse whom I remembered previously; she started up on hearing me move and looked at me anxiously.
"You need not fear, nurse," I said. "I am better; the cobwebs have gone."
The nurse smiled, then she placed her hand upon my wrist.
"Yes," she said, "you are better, stronger. Can you bear to have this in your mouth a minute?"
Evidently she was pleased with me, for a minute later she smiled confidently.