The doctor seemed seized with a qualm of faintness: he shut his mouth tight and nodded.
"I knew it," said Utterson. "He meant to murder you. You have had a fine escape.
"I have had what is far more to the purpose,"returned the doctor solemnly: "I have had a lesson—O God, Utterson, what a lesson I have had!" And he covered his face for a moment with his hands.
On his way out, the lawyer stopped and had a word or two with Poole. "By the by," said he, "there was a letter handed in to-day: what was the messenger like?"But Poole was positive nothing had come except by post; "and only circulars by that," he added.