God's worst curse has fallen on me.' His fingers encountered his watch-chain; instantly he had plucked forth his watch and held it to his ear.

He could hear it ticking.
'I am not deaf,' he said aloud.

'I am only insane.

My mind has quitted me for ever.' He looked uneasily about the room, and--gazed with lacklustre eyes at the chair in which Mr Dickson had installed himself.

The end of a cigar lay near on the fender.
'No,' he thought, 'I don't believe that was a dream; but God knows my mind is failing rapidly.