"The ship"s surgeon, sir," he stammered, "asks you please to hurry to the sick-bay. A pa.s.senger has shot himself!"
On the bed, propped up by pillows, young Talbot, with glazed, shocked eyes, stared at me. His shirt had been cut away; his chest lay bare.
Against his left shoulder the doctor pressed a tiny sponge which quickly darkened.
I must have exclaimed aloud, for the doctor turned his eyes.
"It was HE sent for you," he said, "but he doesn"t need you.
Fortunately, he"s a d.a.m.ned bad shot!"
The boy"s eyes opened wearily; before we could prevent it he spoke.
"I was so tired," he whispered. "Always moving me on. I was so tired!"
Behind me came heavy footsteps, and though with my arm I tried to bar them out, the two detectives pushed into the doorway. They shoved me to one side and through the pa.s.sage made for him came the Jew in the sable coat, Mr. Adolph Meyer.
For an instant the little great man stood with wide, owl-like eyes, staring at the face on the pillow.
Then he sank softly to his knees. In both his hands he caught the hand of the card-sharp.
"Heine!" he begged. "Don"t you know me? It is your brother Adolph; your little brother Adolph!"