I took the hint, and did not speak at all, but followed him over deep matting into a little room to which he showed me.

And then I gave him a little note, written before I left Bruntsea, and asked him whether he thought that his master was well enough to attend to it.
He looked at me in a peculiar manner, for he had known my father well, having served from his youth in the family; but he only asked whether my message was important.

I answered that it was, but that I would wait for another time rather than do any harm.

But he said that, however ill his master was, nothing provoked him more than to find that any thing was neglected through it.

And before I could speak again he was gone with my letter to Lord Castlewood..