It was not the moment for niceties, and
his gesture was rough.
At his first touch Chilcote made no response--his brain,
dulled by indulgence in his vice, had become a laggard in
conveying sensations; but at last, as the pressure on his
shoulder increased, his nervous system seemed suddenly to jar
into consciousness. A long shudder shook him; he half lifted
himself and then dropped back upon the pillow.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, in a trembling breath. "Oh!" The sound
seemed drawn from him by compulsion.
Its uncanny tone chilled Loder anew. "Wake up, man!" he said,
suddenly. "Wake up! It's I--Loder."
Again the other shuddered; then he turned quickly and
nervously. "Loder?" he said, doubtfully. "Loder?" Then his
face changed. "Good God!" he exclaimed, "what a relief!"
The words were so intense, so spontaneous and unexpected, that
Loder took a step back.
Chilcote laughed discordantly, and lifted a shaky hand to
protect his eyes from the light.
"It's--it's all right, Loder! It's all right! It's only that
I--that I had a beastly dream.
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