Mr. Lavender answered faintly into his pillow:
"It is useless for you to torture me. No German hand shall wring from me
a groan."
"Is there mania in his family?" asked the voice. At this cruel insult
Mr. Lavender, who was nearly smothered, made a great effort, and
clearing his mouth of the pillow, said:
"Since we have no God nowadays, I call the God of my fathers to witness
that there is no saner public man than I."
It was, however, his last effort, for the wriggle he had given to
his spine brought on a kind of vertigo, and he relapsed into
unconsciousness.
V
IS CONVICTED OF A NEW DISEASE
Those who were assembled round the bed of Mr. Lavender remained for
a moment staring at him with their mouths open, while Blink growled
faintly from underneath.
"Put your hand here," said the doctor at last.
"There is a considerable swelling, an appearance of inflammation, and
the legs are a curious colour. You gave him three-quarters of a tumbler
of rum--how much honey?"
Thus addressed, Joe Petty, leaning his head a little to one side,
answered:
"Not 'alf a pot, sir."
"Um! There are all the signs here of something quite new. He's not had a
fall, has he?"
"Has he?" said Mrs.
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