How long?
How many days and nights had he lain in the attic, hot by day and cold at night?
He could not guess, and it tired him to try.
The doctor asked two or three questions while he examined him, and then stood quite still for a few seconds, watching him intently.

The two young house surgeons who accompanied the great man kept a respectful silence, waiting for his opinion.

When he found an interesting case he sometimes delivered a little lecture on it, in a quiet monotonous tone that did not disturb the other patients.

But to-day he did not seem inclined to talk.
"Convalescent," he said, "at least of the fever.

He needs good food more than anything else.