However, he felt that he must consult with somebody, and Ferris was the only one to whom he could turn.

A moment later he was face to face with him.
"Mr.Ferris," he said, "I am in the most grievous trouble, and I come to you in the hope that, if you cannot help me, you can at least advise me what to do." "If your trouble has come," answered Ferris, with a shade of irony in his voice, "through following the advice that I have already given you, I shall endeavour, as well as I am able, to help you out of it." "You know very well," cried Brenton, hotly, "that my whole trouble has occurred through neglecting your advice, or, at least, through deliberately not following it.

I _could_ not follow it." "Very well, then," said Ferris, "I am not surprised that you are in a difficulty.

You must remember that such a crisis is an old story with us here." "But, my dear sir," said Brenton, "look at the appalling condition of things, the knowledge of which has just come to me.

It seems I was poisoned, but of course that doesn't matter.