I beckoned to the servant, and we went downstairs together.  I turned off the hall into an old-fashioned panelled room, and there standing, I heard all the servant had to tell.  It was not a great deal.

“I concluded, sir, from your words, and looks, sir, as you left last night, that you thought my master was seriously ill.  I thought it might be that you were afraid of a fit, or something.  So I attended very close to your directions.  He sat up late, till past three o’clock.  He was not writing or reading.  He was talking a great deal to himself, but that was nothing unusual.  At about that hour I assisted him to undress, and left him in his slippers and dressing-gown.  I went back softly in about half-an-hour.  He was in his bed, quite undressed, and a pair of candles lighted on the table beside his bed.  He was leaning on his elbow, and looking out at the other side of the bed when I came in.  I asked him if he wanted anything, and he said No.

“I don’t know whether it was what you said to me, sir, or something a little unusual about him, but I was uneasy, uncommon uneasy about him last night.

“In another half hour, or it might be a little more, I went up again.  I did not hear him talking as before.  I opened the door a little.  The candles were both out, which was not usual.  I had a bedroom candle, and I let the light in, a little bit, looking softly round.  I saw him sitting in that chair beside the dressing-table with his clothes on again.  He turned round and looked at me.  I thought it strange he should get up and dress, and put out the candles to sit in the dark, that way.  But I only asked him again if I could do anything for him.  He said, No, rather sharp, I thought.  I asked him if I might light the candles, and he said, ‘Do as you like, Jones.’  So I lighted them, and I lingered about the room, and he said, ’Tell me truth, Jones; why did you come again—­you did not hear anyone cursing?’ ‘No, sir,’ I said, wondering what he could mean.

“‘No,’ said he, after me, ‘of course, no;’ and I said to him, ’Wouldn’t it be well, sir, you went to bed?  It’s just five o’clock;’ and he said nothing, but, ‘Very likely; good-night, Jones.’  So I went, sir, but in less than an hour I came again.  The door was fast, and he heard me, and called as I thought from the bed to know what I wanted, and he desired me not to disturb him again.  I lay down and slept for a little.  It must have been between six and seven when I went up again.  The door was still fast, and he made no answer, so I did not like to disturb him, and thinking he was asleep, I left him till nine.  It was his custom to ring when he wished me to come, and I had no particular hour for calling him.  I tapped very gently, and getting no answer, I stayed away a good while, supposing he was getting some rest then.  It was not till eleven o’clock I grew really uncomfortable about him—­for at the latest he was never, that I could remember, later than half-past ten.  I got no answer.  I knocked and called, and still no answer.  So not being able to force the door, I called Thomas from the stables, and together we forced it, and found him in the shocking way you saw.”