His father, on the other hand, could not raise his head after a debauch; but when that was gone, all ill results of his imprudence seemed to have vanished.
At about noon on that day Aby was sitting by his father's bedside.

Up to that time it had been quite impossible to induce him to speak a word.

He could only groan, swallow soda-water with "hairs of the dog that bit him" in it, and lay with his head between his arms.

But soon after noon Aby did induce him to say a word or two.

The door of the room was closely shut, the little table was strewed with soda-water bottles and last drops of small goes of brandy.