Chapter 27
"If Gartram should learn everything. If Denise should not recover.
Hah!"
Glyddyr uttered a low expiration of the breath, as he recalled how closely Gellow's interests were mixed up with his own.
"And I have given him _carte blanche_," he thought; "and he will say or do anything to throw them off the scent--or _do_ anything," he repeated, after a pause. "No, he dare do no harm; he is too fond of his own neck."
He had come to this point when he reached the side of his long, graceful-looking yacht, and as soon as he was aboard he gave his orders; the mooring ropes were cast off, and the sails hoisted. Then, fetching a gla.s.s from the cabin, Glyddyr carefully scanned the pier and sh.o.r.e, but could see nothing but little knots of people standing about discussing the adventure, while the largest knots hung about the door of the hotel.
Almost at the same moment, Gellow was using the telescope in the hotel hall.
"Right," he said to himself, as he closed it, upon seeing that the sails of the yacht were being hoisted. "Good boy; but you'll have to pay for it. Well, doctor, how is she?"
Doctor Asher had just come down from one of the bed-chambers.
"Recovering fast," said that gentleman, following Gellow into a private room, "but very much excited. She will require rest and great care for some days."
Gellow tapped him on the breast, and gave him a meaning look.
"No, she won't, doctor," he said, in a low voice. "I must get her home at once. Most painful for us both to stop. People chattering and staring, and that sort of thing. Most grateful to you for your attention," he continued, taking out his pocket-book, opening it quickly, and drawing therefrom two crisp new five-pound notes. "Let me see, you doctors prefer guineas," he said, thrusting his hand into his pocket.
"No, no, really," protested Asher, as his eyes sparkled at the sight of the notes.
"Ah, well, I shall not press you, doctor; but I'm down and you are down after this painful affair, so what do you say to prescribing for us both pints of good cham and a seltzer, eh? Not bad, eh?"
"Excellent, I'm sure," said Asher, smiling; "but really I cannot think of--er--one note is ample."
"Bosh, sir!" cried Gellow, crumpling up both, and pressing them into the doctor's hand. "Professional knowledge must be paid
The waiter hurried out, and Gellow continued confidentially,--
"Bless her! Charming woman, but bit of a tyrant, sir. Love her like mad don't half express it; but there are times when a man does like a run alone. Just off with a friend for a bit of a cruise when the check-string was pulled tight. You understand?"
"Oh, yes; I begin to understand."
"Ah, here's the stimulus, and I'm sure we require it."
_Pop_!
"Thanks, waiter. Needn't wait. Now, doctor: bless her--the dear thing's health. Hah, not bad--for the country. I may take her back to-day, eh?"
"Well, er--if great care were taken, and you broke the journey if the lady seemed worse--I--er--think perhaps you might risk it," said Asher, setting down his empty gla.s.s. "Of course you would take every precaution."
"Who would take more, doctor? Put out, of course; but the weaker s.e.x, eh? Yes, the weaker s.e.x."
He refilled the doctor's gla.s.s and his own.
"An accident. Pray, don't think it was anything else; and, I say: you will contradict any one who says otherwise?"
"Of course, of course."
"There are disagreeable people who might say that the poor dear sprang off the pier in a fit of temper at being left behind, but we know better, eh, doctor?"
"Oh, of course," said Asher, playing with and enjoying his gla.s.s of champagne.
"It's a wonderful thing, temper. Take a cigar?"
"Thanks, no. I never smoke in the daytime."
"Sorry for you, doctor. Professional reasons, I suppose?"
Asher bowed.
"I was going to say," continued Gellow, carefully selecting one out of the four cigars he carried, for no earthly reason, since he would smoke all the others in their turn. "I was going to say that it is a wonderful thing how Nature always gives the most beautiful women the worst tempers."
"Compensation?" hazarded Asher.
"Eh? Yes; I suppose so. Going, doctor?"
"Yes; other patients to see."
"Then my eternal grat.i.tude, sir, for what you have done, and with all due respect to you and your skill, I hope I may never have to place a certain lady in your care again. Shake hands, my dear sir. Doctor Asher, I think you are called? That name will be engraven on the lady's heart."
"You will take the greatest care?" said Asher.
"Of course."
"And break the journey, if needful?"
"And break the journey if I think it needful. You need be under no apprehension, my dear doctor. Good-morning, and goodbye.
"Yes; bless her! I'll take the greatest care, Asher, by gad!" said Gellow to himself, as he saw the doctor pa.s.s the window, when he filled his own gla.s.s, took a hasty sip, and then drew out his pocket-book.
"Shall I make a lump charge on this journey," he said, "or put down the separate items? Better be exact," he muttered, and he carefully wrote down,--
"Doctor's fees, twenty guineas; lunch for doctor, one guinea."
"Always as well to be correct," he muttered, as he replaced his pencil in the book, and drew round the elastic band with a snap. "How am I to know about how she is going on? By jingo!"
He started, so sudden was the apparition of the woman, who flung open the door, and closed it loudly, being evidently in a fierce fit of excitement and rage.
"Where is my hosband?" she cried, speaking in a low voice, and through her teeth.
Gellow beckoned her to the window, and pointed out to where _The Fair Star_ was careening over, with a pleasant breeze sending her rapidly through the water.
"He is dere," she said, watching the yacht through her half-closed eyes.
"Yes, he's off. Gave me the slip while I was helping you. By jingo, ma'am, you had a narrow escape."