Part 5 (1/2)
The coffee and cigar were having their effect, and at the end of an hour, during which the party at the end of the table had been conversing in a low voice, a moan or two from the sufferer finished the tendency towards submission, and Chester busied hi once more, ”Pen and ink,” he said shortly, and the heavy-featured young fellow fetched hiraph form, too”
”Plenty there, doctor”
Chester wrote quickly for a fewfelloho had stopped close at hand
”I want this prescriptiona substitute to see ht, doctor,” and the recipient took both to the end of the table, and gave them to the man who seemed to be his brother
The latter took the papers and rose to cross to Chester
”Thank you, doctor,” he said quietly ”You will do your best, I see
Please bear in mind that money is no object to us here Our cousin's life is”
He went out of the rooht with hi old lady in black silk and white apron
She was very pale, and her eyes looked wild and strange, as she went straight to the couch, leaned over and kissed the patient's forehead, and then set to work and cleared the disordered table, al her and helping to carry the dessert things out by the farther door
Chester's face must have told tales, for he started round in surprise to find that he had been carefully watched by the leader of the little plot to detain hiet out that way, doctor,” he said quietly ”We are a very united family here, and the housekeeper is devoted to us”
Chester froith annoyance
”I understand you,” he said; ”buthas his day, sir, and ht into play and an aitness silenced”
”My dear doctor, you are romantic,” was the sarcastic reply ”Don't be alarmed; we shall not shoot and bury you on the preht affect the nerves of our ladies, too There, all ant of you is your skill to set that poor fellow right, and then you can return ho ordinary patients How does he seery retort was at Chester's lips, but he did not utter it He accepted his position, for the ti on well, but he will be the better for a sedative Feverish, of course Have you sent that prescription?”
”Yes, it has been taken, and the che up to dispense it
I say, doctor; no fear of a bad ending?”
”And no thanks to thestraight at his questioner as he spoke ”Fortunately the bullet passed diagonally by his ribs, an inch to the right--”
”Yes, yes, the old story, doctor; but I did not fire the shot”
”Pray don't excuse yourself, sir,” said Chester, coldly ”I aistrate; only a ery”
”And a little more, too,” was the reply, with a s, and you will not introduce the matter to the police It will pay you better to be silent; but if you preferred to talk about it I'm afraid you would not be believed”
The speaker smiled cynically as he saw the effect of his words, and walked away, leaving Chester thinking deeply, and, in spite of his anger and annoyance, beginning more and more to feel that he had better accept his position
”It is a strange experience,” he said to himself, as he sank back in an easy-chair by the couch; ”but a fee of two hundred guineas! Bel shall have it in the shape of a present She will not fidget when she has had my wire”