The Talleyrand Maxim

Its old Mr. Bartle, sir, he whispered. Hes in your room there-dead! Dead? exclaimed Eldrick. Dead! Pratt shook his head again. He came up not so long after youd gone, sir, he said. Everybody had gone but me-I was just going. Wanted to see you about something I dont 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...