And at last, with a sensation of relief which brought the tears starting to his eyes, Dr. Panton saw that his efforts were to be successful; Bubbles, after a little choking gasp, gave a long, fluttering sigh....

It was then that the doctor had to thank Sir Lyon and Helen Brabazon.  One of them, or both of them together, had thought of going back to the house and of getting an invalid chair which Helen remembered having seen in a corner of one of the rooms when she had been shown over the house by her host.

Even so, it was a very melancholy little procession which followed the two men carrying the chair on which Bubbles now lay in apathetic silence.

* * * * *

But everything comes to an end at last, and, after having seen Bubbles put to bed, Dr. Panton turned his attention to Donnington, and he did not leave his second patient till the young man felt, if still shivery and queer, fairly comfortable in bed.  Then the doctor went down to find the other three men in the dining-room, having hot drinks.

Of the three Varick and Sir Lyon showed on their faces traces of the emotion and anxiety which they had been through; but James Tapster looked his normal, phlegmatic self.

“I wonder what exactly happened?” exclaimed Panton at last.  “I suppose the whole thing was owing to these high-heeled shoes which women will wear.”

Varick nodded, and, as he saw that Panton expected him to say something, he muttered:  “Yes, it must have been something of the kind that made her trip.”

“It was a near thing,” went on the doctor thoughtfully.  “She was very far gone when we got her out at last.  I don’t mind admitting now that, when I began, I had hardly any hope of being able to bring her round.”

He waited a moment and then added, as if to himself:  “In fact, there came a time when I would have left off, discouraged, but for the look on that boy’s face.”

“What boy?” asked Tapster, surprised.

“Donnington, of course!  I felt I must bring her back to life for his sake.”

James Tapster opened his mouth.  Then he shut it again.  He told himself that it would, of course, have been very disappointing for Donnington to have plunged into that icy water all for nothing, as it were.

The four men remained silent for awhile, and then Varick said slowly:  “She can’t have been in the water more than a minute before Donnington was in after her—­for of course I gave the alarm at once.”

Sir Lyon looked at him quickly.  “I thought Donnington turned round and missed her?”

“Donnington must have heard me call out.”  Varick was lighting a cigarette, and Sir Lyon saw that his hand shook; “and yet when I saw her roll down the bank I was so paralyzed with horror that my voice seemed to go.”

He looked appealingly at his friend Panton.

“Yes, I can well understand that,” said the doctor feelingly.  “I have known shock close the throat absolutely.”  He added:  “Did you see her sink and rise again twice before Donnington got at her, Varick?  I have always wondered whether drowning people always come up three times—­or if it’s only an old wives’ tale.”