Not the less, however,
did he now sit framing a dozen speeches one after the other,
dreading the effect of saying too much, and fearing to say too
little, till, about an hour after Madelon had fallen asleep,
M. Linders at length stirred, opened his eyes, and tried to
move.
Graham was at his side instantly, and the sick man gazed up at
him in silence for a moment.
"What has happened?" he said at last in a feeble voice: "who
are you? where is Madelon?"
"Madelon is in the next room asleep," answered Graham; "you
met with an accident last night--I am an English doctor staying
in the hotel--the French one had to leave--do you remember?"
He paused between each sentence, and M. Linders' eyes, which
were fixed upon him as he spoke, gradually acquired an
expression of intelligence as memory returned to him. He
closed them again and turned away his head.
"Yes, I remember something about it," he said, "but--_que
diable_--I cannot move a limb; am I much hurt?"
"A good deal," said Graham, helping him to raise himself a
little. "You had better keep quiet, and take this," giving him
a cordial, as M.
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