He very cautiously rose to his feet. “T’otherest,” he said, in a low, calm voice, “are you a lying easy? There’s a chill in the air, governor. Shall I put a coat over you?”

No answer.

“That’s about what it is a’ready, you see,” muttered Riderhood in a lower and a different voice; “a coat over you, a coat over you!”

The sleeper moving an arm, he sat down again in his chair, and feigned to watch the storm from the window. It was a grand spectacle, but not so grand as to keep his eyes, for half a minute together, from stealing a look at the man upon the bed.

It was at the concealed throat of the sleeper that Riderhood so often looked so curiously, until the sleep seemed to deepen into the stupor of the dead-tired in mind and body. Then, Riderhood came from the window cautiously, and stood by the bed.