He spoke with great dignity; and he grew, moment by moment, in the respect and esteem of both Doctor Winchester and myself.  We understood that he had not done speaking; so we waited in silence till he continued: 

“I have spoken this much, although I know well that even such a hint as either of you might gather from my words might jeopardise the success of his work.  But I am convinced that you both wish to help him—­and his daughter,” he said this looking me fairly between the eyes, “to the best of your power, honestly and unselfishly.  He is so stricken down, and the manner of it is so mysterious that I cannot but think that it is in some way a result of his own work.  That he calculated on some set-back is manifest to us all.  God knows!  I am willing to do what I can, and to use any knowledge I have in his behalf.  I arrived in England full of exultation at the thought that I had fulfilled the mission with which he had trusted me.  I had got what he said were the last objects of his search; and I felt assured that he would now be able to begin the experiment of which he had often hinted to me.  It is too dreadful that at just such a time such a calamity should have fallen on him.  Doctor Winchester, you are a physician; and, if your face does not belie you, you are a clever and a bold one.  Is there no way which you can devise to wake this man from his unnatural stupor?”

There was a pause; then the answer came slowly and deliberately: 

“There is no ordinary remedy that I know of.  There might possibly be some extraordinary one.  But there would be no use in trying to find it, except on one condition.”

“And that?”

“Knowledge!  I am completely ignorant of Egyptian matters, language, writing, history, secrets, medicines, poisons, occult powers—­all that go to make up the mystery of that mysterious land.  This disease, or condition, or whatever it may be called, from which Mr. Trelawny is suffering, is in some way connected with Egypt.  I have had a suspicion of this from the first; and later it grew into a certainty, though without proof.  What you have said tonight confirms my conjecture, and makes me believe that a proof is to be had.  I do not think that you quite know all that has gone on in this house since the night of the attack—­of the finding of Mr. Trelawny’s body.  Now I propose that we confide in you.  If Mr. Ross agrees, I shall ask him to tell you.  He is more skilled than I am in putting facts before other people.  He can speak by his brief; and in this case he has the best of all briefs, the experience of his own eyes and ears, and the evidence that he has himself taken on the spot from participators in, or spectators of, what has happened.  When you know all, you will, I hope, be in a position to judge as to whether you can best help Mr. Trelawny, and further his secret wishes, by your silence or your speech.”

I nodded approval.  Mr. Corbeck jumped up, and in his impulsive way held out a hand to each.