Part 58 (1/2)
”The moment the doctor says she may leave the house, she can go--but not before.”
”Oh, it's only another lie,” he cried, pa.s.sionately; and raising his voice he called loudly: ”Gareth, Gareth. I am waiting for you. I, Gustav; Gareth, I say, Gareth.”
”You may kill her,” I murmured, wringing my hands.
As if gloating over my trouble, he sneered: ”You act well; but we'll see;” and he called again loudly: ”Gareth, Gareth, come to me.”
I caught the sound of her footsteps above. The door of her room opened and she answered: ”I am coming, Gustav;” and a moment later she came down the stairs and threw herself into his arms.
”She told me you were too ill to come to me, but I knew it was false.
You feel well enough to come away with me?”
”Yes, of course, if you wish it. I must go with him, Christabel; he is my husband,” she cried, wistfully. ”He called me.”
The General saw her condition as plainly as I.
”She is more fit to be in bed than to leave here,” he said.
”Do you suppose I cannot take care of my own wife, sir?” cried Gustav, fiercely. ”Get your hat, Gareth.”
She left his arms and began to climb the stairs.
”Mrs. Perry will bring it, Gareth,” I said, hastily.
But there was no need for it. She clung to the bal.u.s.trade feebly and turned back to look at Gustav.
”I'm afraid--I'm--I'm----” No more; for the next instant he had to catch her in his arms to save her from falling. She smiled to him as if trying to rally her strength. ”My head,” she murmured; and then the hand which was pressed to it dropped, and she fainted.
”You had better carry her up to bed,” said his Excellency, practically.
”She has only fainted and will be better in a minute,” answered the Count. ”She shall not stay here;” and he carried her into one of the rooms and laid her on a couch, standing between me and her to prevent my approach. Every action appeared to be inspired by hatred of me instead of care for her.
Happily the doctor soon came, and his first words after he had examined her were that she must be carried at once to bed.
”I wish to remove her from the house,” said Count Gustav.
”It is impossible,” was the brusque, imperative reply.
”It is necessary.”
”It is for me to say what is necessary in such a case,” declared the doctor; and being a strong as well as a masterful man, he picked Gareth up in his arms and told me to show the way to her bedroom.
And in this way she was given back into my care.
CHAPTER XXIX
A SINGULAR TRUCE