You'll find plenty of warm things with the dressing gown." She went out as before into the next room, and Helmsley managed, though with considerable difficulty, to divest himself of his drenched clothes and get on the comfortable woollen garments she had put ready for him.
When he took off his coat and vest, he spread them in front of the fire to dry instead of the dressing-gown which he now wore, and as soon as she returned he specially pointed out the vest to her.
"I should like you to put that away somewhere in your own safe keeping,"-- he said.

"It has a few letters and--and papers in it which I value,--and I don't want any stranger to see them.

Will you take care of it for me ?" "Of course I will! Nobody shall touch it, be sure! Not a soul ever comes nigh me unless I ask for company!--so you can be quite easy in your mind.

Now I'm going to give you a cup of hot soup, and then you'll go to bed, won't you ?--and, please God, you'll be better in the morning!" He nodded feebly, and forced a smile.

He had sunk back in the armchair and his eyes were fixed on the warm-hearth, where the tiny dog, Charlie, whom he had rescued, and who in turn had rescued him, was curled up and snoozing peacefully.