Curdie ran up, and held out his hand.

He received in it the claw of a bird of prey--vulture or eagle, he could not tell which.
His Lordship, as soon as he was on his legs, taking him for one of the pages abused him heartily for not coming sooner, and threatened him with dismissal from the king's service for cowardice and neglect.

He began indeed what bade fair to be a sermon on the duties of a page, but catching sight of the man who lay at his door, and seeing it was the doctor, he fell upon Curdie afresh for standing there doing nothing, and ordered him to fetch immediate assistance.

Curdie left him, but slipped into the King's chamber, closed and locked the door, and left the rascals to look after each other.

Ere long he heard hurrying footsteps, and for a few minutes there was a great muffled tumult of scuffling feet, low voices and deep groanings; then all was still again.
Irene slept through the whole--so confidently did she rest, knowing Curdie was in her father's room watching over him..