In the room of the sick man our other witnesses were waiting: a tall, dark, austere man who was introduced to me as Dr.Blake Crawford, whose name I had heard as having watched the case for Sebastian at the time of the investigation.

There were present also a commissioner of oaths, and Dr.Mayby, a small local practitioner, whose attitude towards the great scientist was almost absurdly reverential.

The three men were grouped at the foot of the bed, and Mayfield and I joined them.

Hilda stood beside the dying man, and rearranged the pillow against which he was propped.

Then she held some brandy to his lips.