The Talleyrand Maxim

It's old Mr. Bartle, sir, he whispered. He's in your room there - dead! Dead? exclaimed Eldrick. Dead! Pratt shook his head again. He came up not so long after you'd gone, sir, he said. Everybody had gone but me - I was just going. Wanted to see you about something I don't know what. He was very tottery when he came in - complained of the stairs and the fog. I took him into your room, to sit down in the easy chair. And - he died straight off. Just, concluded Pratt, just as if he was going quietly to sleep