Chapter 9
As he left the study and crossed the hall, with its polished granite flooring, his delicate manner of proceeding toward the drawing-room, and stepping from one to another of the oases of Eastern rugs, was still like the progress of the cat who believed the polished granite to be water, and tried to avoid wetting his paws.
When he laid his hand upon the drawing-room door, a murmur of voices came from within, and, as he entered, Mary Dillon jumped up from the low ottoman upon which she had been seated, talking to Glyddyr, and ran quickly to the doctor's side.
"How is he?" she said excitedly.
"Better, certainly. Miss Gartram wants you to go and stay with her."
"Yes, of course. Good-bye, Mr Glyddyr, and thank you for being so kind."
She spoke as she ran to the door, jerked the last words back over her shoulder, and was gone, leaving the doctor face to face with the visitor.
"How is he?" said the latter. "You can speak plainly to me."
"To be sure I can, my dear sir. Ah, what a world this is. Yesterday we were taking our champagne in the saloon of your charming yacht, to-day--"
"You are keeping me waiting for an answer," said Glyddyr, rather stiffly.
"So I am," said the doctor, smiling. "Well, how is he? Rather bad.
Nasty fit of his usual sort."
"Then he is subject to these fits?"
"Most decidedly."
"But what caused it?"
"Worry. From what I can gather, he must have some upset when out walking. Our friend has a temper."
"Ah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Glyddyr.
"Then he has had some quarrel with this poor fellow who is hurt. The terrible accident followed, and, with the customary cra.s.s obstinacy of rustic, ignorant workmen, the poor fellow and his comrades lay the blame of a trouble, caused by their own stupidity, upon their employer."
"Yes, I see. Caused great mental disturbance?"
"Exactly, my dear sir. He being a man who, in the labour of making money, has nearly worried himself to death."
"Yes."
"And who now worries himself far more to keep it."
"Ah, money is hard to keep," said Glyddyr, with a smile.
"He has found it so, sir. When the old bank broke years ago, it hit him to the tune of
"Indeed!"
"Yes; and that set him building this place for his protection. I shouldn't wonder if he has quite a bank here."
"Indeed! The the old man is rich?"
"Rich! I thought every one knew that. Better be poor and happy."
"As we are, eh, doctor? Well, it's a terrible worry--money."
This was accompanied by a peculiar look which the doctor interpreted, and replied to with one as suggestive.
"No danger, I hope, to the old gentleman?"
"No, no. Fits are not favourable to health, though."
"Well, no danger this time, I hope?"
"Not a bit. He'll feel the shock for a few days. That's all."
"And the other patient?"
"Hah, yes; I'm just going over there."
"He is very bad, you say?"
"Bad! I expect to find him gone."
The doctor nodded, and left the room.
"Bah! how I do hate them," said Glyddyr. "I'd have walked down with him, but I always feel as if I were smelling physic."
Glyddyr stood tapping the bottom of his watch, which he had just taken from his pocket, as he talked in a low tone, just as if he were conversing with the little round face before him.
"How wild the old boy was--just after he had been talking to me as he had. Pshaw! I don't mind. Rustic bit of courts.h.i.+p. Half-b.u.mpkin sort of fellow, and poor as Job. Old man wouldn't have him at any price.
The gipsy! Been carrying on with him, then, eh? Well, it's always the way with your smooth, drooping little violets. Regular flirtation. I don't mind. I wouldn't give a dump for a girl without a bit of spirit in her. It's all right. Friends at court--a big friend at court. But no more fits for friends--at present, I hope. I'll get him to come on a cruise, and bring her. Tell the old boy it will do him good. Get the doctor on my side, and make him prescribe a trip round the islands, with him to come as medical attendant. Nothing to do, and unlimited champagne. Real diplomacy. By Jupiter, Parry, you are a clever one, though you do get most awfully done on the turf!"
"Yes," he said, after another look at the watch, for the purpose now of seeing the time, "that's the plan--a long sea trip round the islands, with sentiment, sighs and sunsets; and, as they said in the old melodramas, 'Once aboard the lugger, she is mine.' For, lugger read steam yacht, schooner-rigged _Fair Star_, of Cowes; Parry Glyddyr, owner."
He laughed in a low, self-satisfied way, and then moved toward the door.
"Well, it's of no use to wait here," he said. "They will not show up again. I can call, though, as often as I like. Come again this evening, and see her then. She can't refuse. I'll go now and see how the salmon fisher is getting on."
Volume One, Chapter VI.
IN CHARGE.
"Mary, dear, don't deceive me for the sake of trying to give me comfort," said Claude, as she knelt in the study, beside the mattress upon which her father lay breathing stertorously.
"Claude, darling, I tease you and say spiteful things sometimes, but you know you can trust me."
"Yes, yes, dear, I know; but you don't answer me."
"I have told you again and again that your father is just like he was last time, and the best proof of there being no danger is Doctor Asher staying away so long."