Chapter 5

           WhenIcamefrommyroomathalf-pasteleveno’clockIfoundallwellinthesick-room.Thenewnurse,prim,neat,andwatchful,satinthechairbythebedsidewhereNurseKennedyhadsatlastnight.Alittlewayoff,betweenthebedandthesafe,satDr.Winchesteralertandwakeful,butlookingstrangeandalmostcomicwiththerespiratorovermouthandnose.AsIstoodinthedoorwaylookingatthemIheardaslightsound;turningroundIsawthenewdetective,whonodded,heldupthefingerofsilenceandwithdrewquietly.Hithertonooneofthewatcherswasovercomebysleep.

           Itookachairoutsidethedoor.Asyettherewasnoneedformetoriskcomingagainunderthesubtleinfluenceoflastnight.Naturallymythoughtswentrevolvingroundthemainincidentsofthelastdayandnight,andIfoundmyselfarrivingatstrangeconclusions,doubts,conjectures;butIdidnotlosemyself,asonlastnight,intrainsofthought.Thesenseofthepresentwaseverwithme,andIreallyfeltasshouldasentryonguard.Thinkingisnotaslowprocess;andwhenitisearnestthetimecanpassquickly.Itseemedaveryshorttimeindeedtillthedoor,usuallyleftajar,waspulledopenandDr.Winchesteremerged,takingoffhisrespiratorashecame.Hisact,whenhehaditoff,wasdemonstrativeofhiskeenness.Heturneduptheoutsideofthewrapandsmelleditcarefully.

           "Iamgoingnow,"hesaid."Ishallcomeearlyinthemorning;unless,ofcourse,Iamsentforbefore.Butallseemswelltonight.