human
Oh, Mr. Voss, have you heard anything of Archie?
gpt
Nothing yet,
human
Dreadful, dreadful! What can it mean?
gpt
Don't be alarmed about it, said Mr. Birtwell, trying to speak in an assuring voice.
human
He must have gone home with a friend. It will be all right, I am confident.
gpt
I trust so, replied Mr. Voss.
human
But I cannot help feeling very anxious. He has never been away all night before. Something is wrong. Do you know precisely at what time he left here?
gpt
I do not, replied Mr. Birtwell.
human
We had a large company, and I did not note particularly the coming or going of any one.
gpt
Doctor Angier thinks it was soon after twelve o'clock. He saw him come out of the dressing-room and go down stairs about that time.
human
How is Frances? asked Mrs. Birtwell.
gpt
It must be a dreadful shock to her in her weak state.
human
Yes, it is dreadful, and I feel very anxious about her. If anything has happened to Archie, it will kill her.
gpt
She is calmer than she was, said Mr. Voss.
human
The first alarm and suspense broke her right down, and she was insensible for some hours. But she is bearing it better now--much better than I had hoped for.
gpt
I will go to see her at once. Oh, if I knew how to comfort her!
human
She will see me, of course?
gpt
I do not know. Perhaps you'd better not go round yet. It might disturb her too much, and the doctor says she must be kept as quiet as possible.