THE TALLEYRAND MAXIM

Its old Mr. Bartle, sir, he whispered. Hes in your room there -- dead! Dead? exclaimed Eldrick. Dead! Pratt shook his head again. He came up not so long after youd gone, sir, he said. Everybody had gone but me -- I was just going. Wanted to see you about something I dont know what. He was very tottery when he came in -- complained of the stairs and the fog. I took him into your room, to sit down in the easy chair. And -- he died straight off. Just, concluded Pratt, just as if he was going quietly to sleep....