Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.  Smoke was advancing across the carpet.  He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.  He was no shadow-cat, but real and full of his usual and perfect self-possession.  He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.  His eyes no longer glared; they shone steadily before him, they radiated, not excitement, but knowledge.  Clearly he was anxious to make amends for the mischief to which he had unwittingly lent himself owing to his subtle and electric constitution.

Still uttering his sharp high purrings he marched up to his master and rubbed vigorously against his legs.  Then he stood on his hind feet and pawed his knees and stared beseechingly up into his face.  He turned his head towards the corner where the collie still lay, thumping his tail feebly and pathetically.

John Silence understood.  He bent down and stroked the creature’s living fur, noting the line of bright blue sparks that followed the motion of his hand down its back.  And then they advanced together towards the corner where the dog was.

Smoke went first and put his nose gently against his friend’s muzzle, purring while he rubbed, and uttering little soft sounds of affection in his throat.  The doctor lit the candle and brought it over.  He saw the collie lying on its side against the wall; it was utterly exhausted, and foam still hung about its jaws.  Its tail and eyes responded to the sound of its name, but it was evidently very weak and overcome.  Smoke continued to rub against its cheek and nose and eyes, sometimes even standing on its body and kneading into the thick yellow hair.  Flame replied from time to time by little licks of the tongue, most of them curiously misdirected.

But Dr. Silence felt intuitively that something disastrous had happened, and his heart was wrung.  He stroked the dear body, feeling it over for bruises or broken bones, but finding none.  He fed it with what remained of the sandwiches and milk, but the creature clumsily upset the saucer and lost the sandwiches between its paws, so that the doctor had to feed it with his own hand.  And all the while Smoke meowed piteously.

Then John Silence began to understand.  He went across to the farther side of the room and called aloud to it.

“Flame, old man! come!”

At any other time the dog would have been upon him in an instant, barking and leaping to the shoulder.  And even now he got up, though heavily and awkwardly, to his feet.  He started to run, wagging his tail more briskly.  He collided first with a chair, and then ran straight into a table.  Smoke trotted close at his side, trying his very best to guide him.  But it was useless.  Dr. Silence had to lift him up into his own arms and carry him like a baby.  For he was blind.