‘Can you imagine it, Stevens?’ and laughed again.
‘Yes, sir,’ I said, laughing also, ‘it would have been a most curious alternative.’
‘But we could still have chaps like you taking messages back and forth, bringing tea, that sort of thing. Otherwise, how would we ever get anything done? Can you imagine it, Stevens? All of us rooted in the soil? Just imagine it!’
Just then a footman emerged behind me.
‘Miss Kenton is wishing to have a word with you, sir,’ he said.
I excused myself from Mr Cardinal and moved towards the doors.
I noticed M. Dupont apparently guarding them and as I approached, he said:
‘Butler, is the doctor here?’
‘I am just going to find out, sir. I won’t be a moment.’
‘I am in some pain.’
‘I’m very sorry, sir. The doctor should not be long now.’
On this occasion, M. Dupont followed me out of the door. Miss Kenton was once more standing out in the hall.
‘Mr Stevens,’ she said, ‘Dr Meredith has arrived and gone upstairs.’
She had spoken in a low voice, but M. Dupont behind me exclaimed immediately:
‘Ah, good!’
I turned to him and said:
‘If you will perhaps follow me, sir.’
I led him into the billiard room where I stoked the fire while he sat down in one of the leather chairs and began to remove his shoes.
‘I’m sorry it is rather cold in here, sir. The doctor will not be long now.’
‘Thank you, butler. You’ve done well.’
Miss Kenton was still waiting for me in the hallway and we ascended through the house in silence. Up in my father’s room, Dr Meredith was making some notes and Mrs Mortimer weeping bitterly. She was still wearing her apron which, evidently, she had been using to wipe away her tears; as a result there were grease marks all over her face, giving her the appearance of a participant in a minstrel show. I had expected the room to smell of death, but on account of Mrs Mortimer – or else her apron – the room was dominated by the smell of roasting.
Dr Meredith rose and said:
‘My condolences, Stevens. He suffered a severe stroke. If it’s any comfort to you, he wouldn’t have suffered much pain. There was nothing in the world you could have done to save him.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘I’ll be on my way now. You’ll see to arrangements?’
‘Yes, sir. However, if I may, there is a most distinguished gentleman downstairs in need of your attention.’