From time to time he moaned and muttered as though he was conscious, and it seemed as though he strove to speak.

He gradually became awake, at any rate to suffering, and Dr Thorne began to think that the last scene would be postponed for yet a while longer.
"Wonderful strong constitution--eh, Dr Thorne?
wonderful!" said Mr Rerechild.
"Yes; he has been a strong man." "Strong as a horse, Dr Thorne.

Lord, what that man would have been if he had given himself a chance! You know his constitution of course." "Yes; pretty well.

I've attended him for many years." "Always drinking, I suppose; always at it--eh ?" "He has not been a temperate man, certainly." "The brain, you see, clean gone--and not a particle of coating left to the stomach; and yet what a struggle he makes--an interesting case, isn't it ?" "It's very sad to see such an intellect so destroyed." "Very sad, very sad indeed.

How Fillgrave would have liked to have seen this case.