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knocking over the bottle of scotch. He was too tired to set it upright. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber.

Suddenly, he was awake and standing in front of the desk, facing the door. He didn't know what had roused him. He no longer felt the effects of the scotch or the despair that had brought the need for it. His vision was blurred but he felt alert and alive.almost joyful.

He decided that it would best if he regurgitated the pills. He turned then stopped in surprise. Someone was sitting at his desk. He leaned over to see better in the dim light and drew back in shock and horror. He had looked into his own face.

In confusion and fear, he paced around the desk.

"I must be dead!" he said to himself. He fought for self control and leaned over the body again.

"Dear God! I don't want to be dead!" he cried.
He was on the verge of panic when he saw a movement as the body took a shallow breath. He squatted beside it and watched it intently. It was barely breathing.

"It's alive!" he shouted.
"I'm still alive!"

There was a rap on the door and Robert turned to see the butler, Means, open it.

"Means!" Robert cried in relief. "Means, get a doctor! Quickly!
I'm dying!"

Means merely looked over at Robert's body, shook his head with an amused smile, and turned to leave.

"Means! Means! Come back!
I'm not drunk! I'm dying!"

Robert started for the door.
"For God's sake, man, help me!" he pleaded.

As the butler shut the door, Robert reached for it and found himself on the other side. He followed Means to the library and over to the fireplace as the butler began to tend the fire.

"Means, please," he said.
"I know you detest me and I suppose you have reason. I have never given you cause to care if I live or die. I've been a bigot, I know, and have belittled you at every opportunity, but please, Means, give me another chance. Get a doctor! I've not much time!"

Means continued to stir the fire.

"Means?" spoke a soft voice.

Robert and Means turned to
the door. It was Clarise entering the room and stepping over to the fire to warm her hands.

In Robert's vision the world had lost its sharp clarity, and everything seemed to shimmer at the edges.
Clarise's features were softer than he remembered, and she was incredibly feminine and beautiful. Was it because of his vision or had his awareness of her changed?

"Is Steven ready to come down?" she asked as she faced the fire.

Robert moved closer to her.
What was this tremor he was experiencing? How could it be that he had never noticed how soft and lovely

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