But it was not so.

It was only fear of madness.

He was still asleep when the nurse came back from the pantomime in a cab, and Guy crept softly downstairs to let her in.
They stood in the hall for some time while Guy told her in whispers about the belladonna liniment.

Then they went upstairs together and found Thomas Oscard--the great historian--dead on the floor.

The liniment bottle, which Guy had left on the mantelpiece, was in his hand--empty.