His lips were bluish, his cheeks blanched.

Rita had been carried into an adjoining bedroom and laid upon a bed; cold water, ointments, a bottle of arnica had been procured; and when Cowperwood appeared she was conscious and somewhat better.

But she was still very weak and smarting from her wounds, both mental and physical.

When the doctor arrived he had been told that a lady, a guest, had fallen down-stairs; when Cowperwood came in the physician was dressing her wounds.
As soon as he had gone Cowperwood said to the maid in attendance, "Go get me some hot water." As the latter disappeared he bent over and kissed Rita's bruised lips, putting his finger to his own in warning sign.
"Rita," he asked, softly, "are you fully conscious ?" She nodded weakly.
"Listen, then," he said, bending over and speaking slowly.

"Listen carefully.