"I I must to then," she said, when I had my powers of narration. "I had a settled that something out of the common would have occurred. You to have had a good dinner, to have some excellent cigars, and the to have been by the commonplace. For once I Doctor Nikola has not up to his reputation."
If she had the truth, I wonder what[Pg 184] she would have said? Long after she had me good-night I on the different events of the evening. The memory of what I had in that room was still as fresh with me as if I were still it. And yet, I asked myself, why should I worry so much about it? Nikola had that his audience should see things. We had done so. It was no more with the than I was myself. Any man who had the power have us in the same way. But though I told myself all this, I must that I was by no means convinced. I in my that the whole thing had been too to be a of make-believe. No brain have the of that room in such complete detail. Even to think of it now, is to the almost too me; and when I at night I to the of the woman, and the of the man in the below.
On my retiring to my wife had me that she Miss Trevor had been that evening. She had slept peacefully for of an hour, and much by it.
"Her is going to the night in her room," said Phyllis; "I have told her that, if[Pg 185] she sees any in Gertrude's condition, she is to let me know at once. I do that she may be herself again to-morrow."
This, however, was not to be the case; for a little three o'clock, there was a upon our door. Guessing who it would be, my wife to it, and, having opened it a little, was that Miss Trevor was worse.
"I must go to her at once," said Phyllis, and, having herself warmly, for the night was cold, she to our guest's room.
"I am that there is something very the with her," she said, when she returned after about a of an hour's absence. "She is in a high of fever, and is to be delirious. Don't you think we had send for the doctor?"
"I will have a messenger to him at once if you think it necessary," I returned. "Poor girl, I wonder what on earth it can be?"
"Perhaps the doctor will be able to tell us now," said my wife. "The are more developed, and he should surely be able to make his diagnosis. But I must not here talking. I must go to her."
When she had departed, I myself and to the in search of the night watchman. He to a messenger[Pg 186] to go and the doctor, and, when I had him on his errand, I returned to the drawing-room, on the electric light, and to myself in a book until the should arrive. I was not very successful, however, for though I was to the book was, I my it and returning to the house in the Rio Consiglio. I what Nikola was doing at that moment, and I picture him still at work, late though the hour was. At last, of the book and wanting something else to my thoughts, I to the window and the shutters. It was a morning, and the overhead were in the black of the like the of a large town. Not a was to be heard; it might have been a City of the Dead, so still was it. As I looking across the water, I of the city's past history, of her grandeur, of her art, and of the great men who had been her children. There was a lesson to be learnt from her Fall if one only master it. I was in my by the entrance of the doctor, I had told the night to to my presence upon his arrival.
"I am sorry to you out at this time of[Pg 187] the night, doctor," I said; "but the is, Miss Trevor is much worse. My wife the part of the with her, and me on my return from a dinner that she was better. Three-quarters of an hour ago, however, her maid, who had been sleeping in her room, came to us with the news that a for the had set in. This being the case, I it to send for you at once."
"You did right, my dear sir, right," the replied. "There is nothing like in these matters. Perhaps I had see her without delay."
With that I him to the door of Miss Trevor's room. He upon it, was by my wife, and then from my gaze. Something like half-an-hour he returned to me in the drawing-room. When he did so his looked and troubled.
"What do you think of her condition now, doctor?" I asked.
"She is in a of high fever," he answered. "Her is very high, and she is to be delirious. At the same time I am to to you that I am at a to the of it. The case puzzled me yesterday, but I am more puzzled by it now. There are that I can neither account for nor[Pg 188] explain. One thing, however, is certain—the lady must have a nurse, and, with your permission, I will see that one comes in after breakfast. Lady Hatteras is not for the task."
"I am with you there," I answered. "And I am to you for your down. At the same time, will you tell me you it necessary for me to her father from England?"
"So as I can see at present, I do not think there is any need," he replied. "Should I see any for so doing, I would at once tell you. I have a to Lady Hatteras, and her with the name of a chemist. I shall return nine and ten o'clock, and shall to have news for you then."
"I trust you may," I said. "As you may suppose, her has been a great to us."
I then him down-stairs and returned to my bedroom. The news which he had me of Miss Trevor's condition was most distressing, and me more than I to admit. At seven o'clock I saw my wife for a minutes, but, as before, she had no good news to give me.
"She is now," she said, "and[Pg 189] talks of some great trouble which she is going to her; me to help her to from it, but will not say definitely what it is. It goes to my to her, and to know that I cannot her."
"You must be what you are doing," I replied. "The doctor has promised to a nurse with him after breakfast, who will you of the responsibility. I he we had send for her father, and it is in a way to know that, so far, he not think there is any for such an step. In the meantime, however, I think I will to the Dean and tell him how stand. It will prepare him, but I am it will give the old a sad fright."
"It not give him a than it has done us," said Phyllis. "I do not know why I should do so, but I cannot help that I am to in some way."
"What nonsense, my dear girl," I replied. "I am sure you have nothing to with. Far from it. You must not worry about it, or we shall be having you upon our hands long. You must that you are from strong."
"I am myself again now," she answered.[Pg 190] "It is only on account of your that I myself as an invalid." Then she added, "I wonder what the Duke will say when he the news?"
"He was very nearly off his yesterday," I answered. "He will be neither to to to-day."
She was for a moments, then she said thoughtfully—
"Do you know, Dick, it may to you, but I do not mind saying that I all this trouble to Nikola."
"Good gracious," I cried, in well-simulated amazement, "why on earth to Nikola?"
"Because, as was the case five years ago, it has been all trouble since we met him. You how he Gertrude at the outset. She was from being herself on the night of our through the city, and now in her she talks of his house, and from what she says, and the way she behaves, I cannot help to that she herself to be some of the events which have or are in it."
"God help her," I said to myself. And then I to my wife, "Doubtless Nikola's has her in some measure, as it other people, but[Pg 191] you are surely not going to jump to the that she has spoken to him he is necessarily for her illness? That would be the of fancy."
"And yet, do you know," she continued, "I have a discovery."
"What is that?" I asked, not without some asperity, for, having so much on my mind, I was not in the for fresh discoveries.
She paused for a moment she replied. Doubtless she that I would it with scepticism, if not with laughter; and Phyllis, since I have her, has a of ridicule.
"You may laugh at me if you please," she said, "yet the is too to be left unnoticed. Do you to be aware, Dick, that Doctor Nikola called at this hotel at eleven o'clock?"
I almost myself in my surprise. This was the last question I her to put to me.
"Yes," I answered, with an to appear calm, "I do to be aware of that fact. He paid a visit of to the Don, to the other's his hospitality. I see nothing in that. I did the same myself, if you remember."
"Of I know that," she replied, "but[Pg 192] there is more to come. Are you also aware that it was at the very moment of his in the house that Gertrude was taken ill? What do you think of that?"
She put this question to me with an air of triumph, as if it were one that no on my part refute. At any rate, I did not attempt the task.
"I think nothing of it," I replied. "You may that you once in a a minutes of the vicar's at our house at home. Would you therefore have me that it was on account of his that you were taken ill? Why should you Miss Trevor's to Nikola's to our friend the Don?"
"I that you will not call him our friend," said Phyllis with dignity. "I do not like the man."
I did not tell her that the Duke was our companion. I see that they would put their together, and that trouble would be the result. Like a wise husband I my peace, that I might say would not the situation.
Half-an-hour later it was my to have to Glenbarth of Miss Trevor's condition.[Pg 193]
"I told you yesterday that it was a not to be with," he said, as if I were personally for her condition. "The doctor doesn't the case, and what you ought to do, if you have any for her life, is to send a at once to London, ordering advice."
"The Dean of Bedminster has a salary of eight hundred annum," I answered quietly. "Such a man as you would want me to send for would a of some hundreds of to make such a journey."
"And you would allow her to die for the of a pounds?" he cried. "Good heavens, Dick, I you were a money-grabber."
"I am you did not," I answered. "It is of her father I am thinking. Besides, I do not know that the doctor here is as as you say. He has a most and case to with, and I him for the that he not it. Many men in his would have in our eyes, and have to a perfect knowledge of the case."
The man did not see it in the same light as I did, and was of the opinion that we were not doing what we might for the woman he loved. My wife, however, took him[Pg 194] in hand after breakfast, and talked but to him. She succeeded where I had failed, and when I returned from an to the chemist's, where I had the up, I him in a of mind.
At a to ten the doctor put in an once more, and, after a of his patient, me that it was his opinion that a should be called in. This was done, and to our the result came no nearer the than before. The case was such a one as had entered into the of either man. To all and purposes there was nothing that would in any way account for the patient's condition. The had left her, and she of no pain, while her mind, save for occasional relapses, was clear enough. They were it was not a case of paralysis, yet she was of moving, or of doing anything to help herself. The of her was not to her weakness, to account for the presence of other symptoms. There was nothing for it, therefore, but for us to our in patience and to wait the turn of events. When the doctors had I in search of Glenbarth, and gave him their report. The poor[Pg 195] was from being by it. He had to good news, and their to give a satisfactory only his in their incompetency. Had I permitted him to do so, he would have at once for the best medical in Europe, and would have his own revenues in an attempt to make her herself once more. It was difficult to him that he had not the right to on the old gentleman's shoulder, which, in bound, he would he must repay.
I will not my readers with the against society, and social etiquette, with which he me in reply to my speech. The was himself with anxiety, and it was difficult to make him that, he had not a narrow of gold upon a finger, he was from saving the life of the owner of that self-same finger. Towards it was that Miss Trevor's condition was going from to worse. With the of the day the had returned, and the had also come with it. We a night, and in the morning, at the of his visit, the doctor me that, in his opinion, it would be that I should to the young[Pg 196] lady's father. This was an step, and, needless to say, it me great alarm. It was all so that it was possible to the of the calamity. Only two days Miss Trevor had been as well as any of us, and in health than my wife. Now she was lying, if not at death's door, at least at no great from that portal. Immediately this sad was to me I to the telegraph-office, and a message to the Dean, asking him to come to us with all possible speed. Before I a reply to the that he had already started. Then we sat ourselves to wait and to watch, almost against that this beautiful, happy life might be to us. All this time we had nothing of the Don or of Nikola. The former, however, had of Miss Trevor's illness, and sent as to her condition. I did not tell Glenbarth of this, for the man had to think of just then without my adding to his worries.
I must pass on now to to you the of the Dean of Bedminster in Venice. Feeling that he would be to question me his daughter's condition, I a point of going to meet him alone. Needless to[Pg 197] say he was much on me, and me to give him the latest bulletin.
"God's will be done," he said quietly, when he had all I had to tell him. "I did not your letter," he remarked, as we our way from the station in the direction of Galaghetti's hotel, "so that you will that I know nothing of the nature of Gertrude's illness. What the doctor say is the with her?"
I then him how the case stood, and of the by the two members of the medical I had called in. "Surely that is very singular, is it not?" he asked, when I had finished. "There are not many left that they are unable to diagnose."
"In this case, however, I they are at a to a name to it," I said. "However, you will be able very soon to see her for yourself, and to your own conclusions."
The meeting the old and his was on his in the extreme. She did not him, did she know my wife. When he joined me in the drawing-room a of an hour or so later his was to witness. While we were talking Glenbarth entered, and I them to each other. The Dean nothing of the latter's for his[Pg 198] daughter, but I fancy, after a time, he must have that there was something in the wind from the other's with him in his trial. As it the old had not any too soon. That Miss Trevor was worse, and the medical men their for her safety. All that day and the next we waited in suspense, but there was no material change. Nature was her stubbornly, by inch. The girl did not any worse, was there any visible improvement. On the doctor's a third physician was called in, but with no success than before. Then on one never-to-be-forgotten the doctor took me on one and me that in his opinion, and those of his colleagues, it would not be wise to any hopes. The patient was weaker, and was more so every hour. With a with I to the Dean's room and the news to him. The old man me out in silence, and then walked to the window and looked upon the Grand Canal. After a while he turned, and to me once more his hand upon my arm.
"If it is the Lord's will that I her, what can I do but submit?" he said. "When shall I be allowed to see her?"[Pg 199]
"I will make inquiries," I answered, and away in search of the doctor. As I passed along the passage I met Galaghetti. The little man had been to the sad intelligence, and in search of me at once.
"M'lord," said he, for do what I would I him of the habit, "believe me it is not so hopeless, though they say so, if you will but to me. There is Doctor Nikola, your friend! He her if you to him. Did he not my child?"
I gave a start of surprise. I will that the idea had to me, but I had the of it into a thought. Why should it not be done? Galaghetti had me how Nikola had his child when she at the point of death, and the other doctors of Venice had her up. He was so in his of the doctor that I almost to it. When I the drawing-room Glenbarth me.
"What news?" he inquired, his itself upon his face.
I my head.
"For God's don't with me," he cried. "You can have no idea what I am suffering."[Pg 200]
Feeling that it would be if I told him everything, I a clean of it. He me out he spoke.
"She must not die," he said, with the of despair. "If there is any power on earth that can be invoked, it shall be to bear. Can you not think of anything? Try! Remember that every second is of importance."
"Would it be safe to try Nikola?" I inquired, looking him in the face. "Galaghetti is wild for me to do so."
In of his to Nikola, Glenbarth jumped at the as a man at a straw.
"Let us him at once," he cried, me by the arm. "If any one can save her he is the man. Let us go to him without a moment's delay."
"No, no," I answered, "that will do. Even in a case of such the proprieties must be observed. I must the doctors calling in another."
I very much to say that here the Duke use of some language that was neither to those gentlemen.
I them out and the them. To the idea of calling in a fourth they had not the least objection,[Pg 201] though they were all of the opinion that it do no good. When, however, I mentioned the that that consultant's name was Nikola, I see that a was rising.
"Gentlemen," I said, "you must me if I speak and to the point. You have us to that your patient's case is hopeless. Now I have had of Doctor Nikola's skill, and I that we should not be in him from our counsel, if he will to be called in. I have no to act to medical etiquette, but we must that the patient's life comes else."
One doctor looked at the other, and all their heads.
"I fear," said the of them, who as spokesman, "that if the services of the in question are called in, it will be necessary for my and myself to our in the case. I do not of know how your knowledge extends, but I you will allow me to say, sir, that the most are as to the and the of this Doctor Nikola."
Though I it to be true, his me. And yet I had such a deeply-rooted in Nikola that, although they were determined[Pg 202] to give up the case, I we should still be equally, if not more, powerful without them.
"I hope, gentlemen," I said, "that you will not do as you propose. Nevertheless, I that I should not be myself acting if I were to allow your professional to in the way of my friend's recovery."
"In that case I there is nothing left to us but to most withdraw," said one of the men.
"You are determined?"
"Quite determined," they together. Then the added, "We much it, but our is irrevocable."
Ten minutes later they had left the hotel in a huff, and I myself seated upon the of a dilemma. What would my position be if Nikola's presence should a upon the patient, or if he should to us assistance? In that case I should have the best doctors in Venice, and should in all have killed her. It was a position to be in. One thing, however, was as as anything be, and that was the that there was no time to lose. My wife was when I her of my decision, but Glenbarth and I that we were acting for the best, and the Dean with us.[Pg 203]
"Since you it necessary, go in search of Doctor Nikola at once," said my wife, when the had left us. "Implore him to come without delay; in another hour it may be too late." Then in a heart-broken she added, "She is every moment. Oh, Dick, Heaven that we are not acting wrongly, and that he may be able to save her."
"I that we are doing right," I answered. "And now I will go in search of Nikola, and if possible him with me."
"God you may be successful in your search," said Glenbarth, my hand. "If Nikola saves her I will do anything he may ask, and still be to him all the days of my life."
Then I set off upon my errand.
