Part 35 (1/2)

”Yes, even if it is only in your own garden.”

From that time she used to walk with him nearly every day.

Richard Ba.s.sett saw this from his tower of observation; saw it, and chuckled. ”Aha!” said he. ”Husband sick in bed. Wife walking in the garden with a young man--a parson, too. He is dark, she is fair.

Something will come of this. Ha, ha!”

Lady Ba.s.sett now talked of sending to London for advice; but Mary Wells dissuaded her. ”Physic can't cure him. There's only one can cure him, and that is yourself, my lady.”

”Ah, would to Heaven I could!”

”Try _my_ way, and you will see, my lady.”

”What, _that_ way! Oh, no, no!”

”Well, then, if you won't, n.o.body else can.”

Such speeches as these, often repeated, on the one hand, and Sir Charles's melancholy on the other, drove Lady Ba.s.sett almost wild with distress and perplexity.

Meanwhile her vague fears of Richard Ba.s.sett were being gradually realized.

Ba.s.sett employed Wheeler to sound Dr. Willis as to his patient's condition.

Dr. Willis, true to the honorable traditions of his profession, would tell him nothing. But Dr. Willis had a wife. She pumped him: and Wheeler pumped her.

By this channel Wheeler got a somewhat exaggerated account of Sir Charles's state. He carried it to Ba.s.sett, and the pair put their heads together.

The consultation lasted all night, and finally a comprehensive plan of action was settled. Wheeler stipulated that the law should not be broken in the smallest particular, but only stretched.

Four days after this conference Mr. Ba.s.sett, Mr. Wheeler, and two spruce gentlemen dressed in black, sat upon the ”Heir's Tower,”

watching Huntercombe Hall.

They watched, and watched, until they saw Mr. Angelo make his usual daily call.

Then they watched, and watched, until Lady Ba.s.sett and the young clergyman came out and strolled together into the shrubbery.

Then the two gentlemen went down the stairs, and were hastily conducted by Ba.s.sett to Huntercombe Hall.

They rang the bell, and the taller said, in a business-like voice, ”Dr.

Mosely, from Dr. Willis.”

Mary Wells was sent for, and Dr. Mosely said, ”Dr. Willis is unable to come to-day, and has sent me.”

Mary Wells conducted him to the patient. The other gentleman followed.

”Who is this?” said Mary. ”I can't let all the world in to see him.”

”It is Mr. Donkyn, the surgeon. Dr. Willis wished the patient to be examined with the stethoscope. You can stay outside, Mr. Donkyn.”

This new doctor announced himself to Sir Charles, felt his pulse, and entered at once into conversation with him.