"
Malcolmsonwithabrightsmileheldouthishand。
"Shake!AstheysayinAmerica,
"hesaid。
"ImustthankyouforyourkindnessandMrs。Withamtoo,andyourkindnessdeservesareturnonmyart。Iromisetotakenomorestrongtea—noteaatalltillyouletme—andIshallgotobedtonightatoneoclockatlatest。Willthatdo?
"
"Caital,
"saidthedoctor。
"Nowtellusallthatyounoticedintheoldhouse,
"andsoMalcolmsonthenandtheretoldinminutedetailallthathadhaenedinthelasttwonights。HewasinterrutedeverynowandthenbysomeexclamationfromMrs。Witham,tillfinallywhenhetoldoftheeisodeoftheBiblethelandladysent-uemotionsfoundventinashriek;anditwasnottillastiffglassofbrandyandwaterhadbeenadministeredthatshegrewcomosedagain。Dr。Thornhilllistenedwithafaceofgrowinggravity,andwhenthenarrativewascomleteandMrs。Withamhadbeenrestoredheasked:
"Theratalwayswentutheroeofthealarmbell?
"
"Always。
"
"Isuoseyouknow,
"saidthedoctorafteraause,
"whattheroeis?
"
"No!
"
"Itis,
"saidthedoctorslowly,
"theveryroewhichthehangmanusedforallthevictimsoftheJudgesjudicialrancour!
"HerehewasinterrutedbyanotherscreamfromMrs。Witham,andsteshadtobetakenforherrecovery。Malcolmsonhavinglookedathiswatch,andfoundthatitwasclosetohisdinnerhour,hadgonehomebeforehercomleterecovery。