<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></SPAN>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
<p>Before Glenbarth and I parted on the
terrible evening described in the previous
chapter, we had made a contract with each
other to say nothing about what we had seen
to the ladies. For this reason, when my wife
endeavoured to interrogate me concerning our
entertainment, I furnished her with an elaborate
description of the dinner itself; spoke of the
marvellous cooking, and I hope gave her a fairly
accurate account of the <i>menu</i>, or rather so much
of it as I could remember.</p>
<p>"I suppose I must confess to defeat then,"
she said, when I had exhausted my powers of
narration. "I had a settled conviction that
something out of the common would have occurred.
You seem simply to have had a good
dinner, to have smoked some excellent cigars,
and the rest to have been bounded merely by
the commonplace. For once I fear Doctor Nikola
has not acted up to his reputation."</p>
<p>If she had known the truth, I wonder what<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</SPAN></span>
she would have said? Long after she had bade
me good-night I lay awake ruminating on the
different events of the evening. The memory
of what I had seen in that awful room was still
as fresh with me as if I were still watching it.
And yet, I asked myself, why should I worry
so much about it? Nikola had willed that his
audience should see certain things. We had
done so. It was no more concerned with the
supernatural than I was myself. Any man who
had the power could have impressed us in the
same way. But though I told myself all this,
I must confess that I was by no means convinced.
I knew in my heart that the whole thing had
been too real to be merely a matter of make-believe.
No human brain could have invented
the ghastly horrors of that room in such complete
detail. Even to think of it now, is to bring the
scene almost too vividly before me; and when I
lay awake at night I seem to hear the shrieks
of the wretched woman, and the moans of the
man perishing in the vaults below.</p>
<p>On my retiring to rest my wife had informed
me that she fancied Miss Trevor had been slightly
better that evening. She had slept peacefully
for upwards of an hour, and seemed much
refreshed by it.</p>
<p>"Her maid is going to spend the night in her
room," said Phyllis; "I have told her that, if<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</SPAN></span>
she sees any change in Gertrude's condition, she
is to let me know at once. I do hope that she
may be herself again to-morrow."</p>
<p>This, however, was unhappily not destined to
be the case; for a little before three o'clock,
there was a tapping upon our bedroom door.
Guessing who it would be, my wife went to it,
and, having opened it a little, was informed that
Miss Trevor was worse.</p>
<p>"I must go to her at once," said Phyllis, and,
having clothed herself warmly, for the night was
cold, she departed to our guest's room.</p>
<p>"I am really afraid that there is something
very serious the matter with her," she said,
when she returned after about a quarter of an
hour's absence. "She is in a high state of fever,
and is inclined to be delirious. Don't you
think we had better send for the doctor?"</p>
<p>"I will have a messenger despatched to him
at once if you think it necessary," I returned.
"Poor girl, I wonder what on earth it can be?"</p>
<p>"Perhaps the doctor will be able to tell us now,"
said my wife. "The symptoms are more fully
developed, and he should surely be able to make
his diagnosis. But I must not stay here talking.
I must go back to her."</p>
<p>When she had departed, I dressed myself and
went down to the hall in search of the night
watchman. He undertook to find a messenger<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</SPAN></span>
to go and fetch the doctor, and, when I had
seen him despatched on his errand, I returned
to the drawing-room, switched on the electric
light, and tried to interest myself in a book
until the medico should arrive. I was not very
successful, however, for interesting though I was
given to understand the book was, I found my
thoughts continually leaving it and returning
to the house in the Rio del Consiglio. I wondered
what Nikola was doing at that moment,
and fancied I could picture him still at work,
late though the hour was. At last, tiring of the
book and wanting something else to occupy my
thoughts, I went to the window and drew back
the shutters. It was a beautiful morning, and the
myriad stars overhead were reflected in the black
waters of the canal like the lamps of a large
town. Not a sound was to be heard; it might
have been a City of the Dead, so still was it.
As I stood looking across the water, I thought
of the city's past history, of her ancient grandeur,
of her wondrous art, and of the great men who
had been her children. There was a tremendous
lesson to be learnt from her Fall if one could
only master it. I was interrupted in my reverie
by the entrance of the doctor, whom I had told
the night watchman to conduct to my presence
immediately upon his arrival.</p>
<p>"I am sorry to bring you out at this time of<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</SPAN></span>
the night, doctor," I said; "but the fact is, Miss
Trevor is much worse. My wife spent the greater
part of the evening with her, and informed me
on my return from a dinner that she was
better. Three-quarters of an hour ago, however,
her maid, who had been sleeping in her room, came
to us with the news that a change for the worse
had set in. This being the case, I thought it
better to send for you at once."</p>
<p>"You did quite right, my dear sir, quite
right," the medico replied. "There is nothing
like promptness in these matters. Perhaps I
had better see her without further delay."</p>
<p>With that I conducted him to the door of
Miss Trevor's room. He knocked upon it, was
admitted by my wife, and then disappeared from
my gaze. Something like half-an-hour elapsed
before he returned to me in the drawing-room.
When he did so his face looked grave and troubled.</p>
<p>"What do you think of her condition now,
doctor?" I asked.</p>
<p>"She is certainly in a state of high fever," he
answered. "Her pulse is very high, and she
is inclined to be delirious. At the same time
I am bound to confess to you that I am at a
loss to understand the reason of it. The case
puzzled me considerably yesterday, but I am
even more puzzled by it now. There are various
symptoms that I can neither account for nor<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</SPAN></span>
explain. One thing, however, is quite certain—the
young lady must have a trained nurse, and,
with your permission, I will see that one comes
in after breakfast. Lady Hatteras is not strong
enough for the task."</p>
<p>"I am quite with you there," I answered.
"And I am vastly obliged to you for putting
your foot down. At the same time, will you
tell me whether you deem it necessary for me
to summon her father from England?"</p>
<p>"So far as I can see at present, I do not think
there is any immediate need," he replied. "Should
I see any reason for so doing, I would at once
tell you. I have given a prescription to Lady
Hatteras, and furnished her with the name of
a reliable chemist. I shall return between nine
and ten o'clock, and shall hope to have better
news for you then."</p>
<p>"I sincerely trust you may," I said. "As
you may suppose, her illness has been a great
shock to us."</p>
<p>I then escorted him down-stairs and afterwards
returned to my bedroom. The news which
he had given me of Miss Trevor's condition was
most distressing, and made me feel more anxious
than I cared to admit. At seven o'clock I
saw my wife for a few minutes, but, as before,
she had no good news to give me.</p>
<p>"She is quite delirious now," she said, "and<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</SPAN></span>
talks continually of some great trouble which she
fears is going to befall her; implores me to
help her to escape from it, but will not say
definitely what it is. It goes to my heart to
hear her, and to know that I cannot comfort
her."</p>
<p>"You must be careful what you are doing," I
replied. "The doctor has promised to bring a
trained nurse with him after breakfast, who will
relieve you of the responsibility. I inquired
whether he thought we had better send for her
father, and it is in a way encouraging to know
that, so far, he does not think there is any
necessity for such an extreme step. In the
meantime, however, I think I will write to the
Dean and tell him how matters stand. It will
prepare him, but I am afraid it will give the poor
old gentleman a sad fright."</p>
<p>"It could not give him a greater fright than
it has done us," said Phyllis. "I do not know
why I should do so, but I cannot help thinking
that I am to blame in some way."</p>
<p>"What nonsense, my dear girl," I replied.
"I am sure you have nothing whatsoever to
reproach yourself with. Far from it. You must
not worry yourself about it, or we shall be having
you upon our hands before long. You must
remember that you are yourself far from strong."</p>
<p>"I am quite myself again now," she answered.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</SPAN></span>
"It is only on account of your anxiety that I
treat myself as an invalid." Then she added,
"I wonder what the Duke will say when he
hears the news?"</p>
<p>"He was very nearly off his head yesterday,"
I answered. "He will be neither to hold nor to
bind to-day."</p>
<p>She was silent for a few moments, then she
said thoughtfully—</p>
<p>"Do you know, Dick, it may seem strange to
you, but I do not mind saying that I attribute
all this trouble to Nikola."</p>
<p>"Good gracious," I cried, in well-simulated
amazement, "why on earth to Nikola?"</p>
<p>"Because, as was the case five years ago, it
has been all trouble since we met him. You
remember how he affected Gertrude at the outset.
She was far from being herself on the night of
our tour through the city, and now in her
delirium she talks continually of his dreadful
house, and from what she says, and the way she
behaves, I cannot help feeling inclined to believe
that she imagines herself to be seeing some of
the dreadful events which have occurred or are
occurring in it."</p>
<p>"God help her," I said to myself. And then
I continued aloud to my wife, "Doubtless
Nikola's extraordinary personality has affected
her in some measure, as it does other people, but<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</SPAN></span>
you are surely not going to jump to the conclusion
that because she has spoken to him he is
necessarily responsible for her illness? That
would be the wildest flight of fancy."</p>
<p>"And yet, do you know," she continued, "I
have made a curious discovery."</p>
<p>"What is that?" I asked, not without some
asperity, for, having so much on my mind, I was
not in the humour for fresh discoveries.</p>
<p>She paused for a moment before she replied.
Doubtless she expected that I would receive it
with scepticism, if not with laughter; and
Phyllis, ever since I have known her, has a
distinct fear of ridicule.</p>
<p>"You may laugh at me if you please," she said,
"yet the coincidence is too extraordinary to be
left unnoticed. Do you happen to be aware,
Dick, that Doctor Nikola called at this hotel at
exactly eleven o'clock?"</p>
<p>I almost betrayed myself in my surprise.
This was the last question I expected her to put
to me.</p>
<p>"Yes," I answered, with an endeavour to
appear calm, "I do happen to be aware of that
fact. He merely paid a visit of courtesy to the
Don, prior to the other's accepting his hospitality.
I see nothing remarkable in that. I did the
same myself, if you remember."</p>
<p>"Of course I know that," she replied, "but<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</SPAN></span>
there is more to come. Are you also aware that
it was at the very moment of his arrival in the
house that Gertrude was taken ill? What do
you think of that?"</p>
<p>She put this question to me with an air of
triumph, as if it were one that no argument on
my part could refute. At any rate, I did not
attempt the task.</p>
<p>"I think nothing of it," I replied. "You
may remember that you once fell down in a dead
faint within a few minutes of the vicar's arrival
at our house at home. Would you therefore
have me suppose that it was on account of
his arrival that you were taken ill? Why
should you attribute Miss Trevor's illness to
Nikola's courtesy to our friend the Don?"</p>
<p>"I beg that you will not call him our friend,"
said Phyllis with considerable dignity. "I do
not like the man."</p>
<p>I did not tell her that the Duke was equally
outspoken concerning our companion. I could
see that they would put their heads together,
and that trouble would be the inevitable result.
Like a wise husband I held my peace, knowing
that whatever I might say would not better
the situation.</p>
<p>Half-an-hour later it was my unhappy lot to
have to inform Glenbarth of Miss Trevor's
condition.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"I told you yesterday that it was a matter not
to be trifled with," he said, as if I were personally
responsible for her grave condition. "The doctor
evidently doesn't understand the case, and what
you ought to do, if you have any regard for her
life, is to send a telegram at once to London,
ordering competent advice."</p>
<p>"The Dean of Bedminster has a salary of
eight hundred pounds per annum," I answered
quietly. "Such a man as you would want me
to send for would require a fee of some hundreds
of guineas to make such a journey."</p>
<p>"And you would allow her to die for the sake
of a few paltry pounds?" he cried. "Good
heavens, Dick, I never thought you were a
money-grabber."</p>
<p>"I am glad you did not," I answered. "It
is of her father I am thinking. Besides, I do
not know that the doctor here is as ignorant as
you say. He has a most complicated and unusual
case to deal with, and I honour him for
admitting the fact that he does not understand
it. Many men in his profession would have
thrown dust in our eyes, and have pretended to
a perfect knowledge of the case."</p>
<p>The young man did not see it in the same
light as I did, and was plainly of the opinion
that we were not doing what we might for the
woman he loved. My wife, however, took him<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</SPAN></span>
in hand after breakfast, and talked quietly but
firmly to him. She succeeded where I had
failed, and when I returned from an excursion
to the chemist's, where I had the prescriptions
made up, I found him in a tolerably reasonable
frame of mind.</p>
<p>At a quarter to ten the doctor put in an
appearance once more, and, after a careful inspection
of his patient, informed me that it
was his opinion that a consultant should be
called in. This was done, and to our dismay
the result came no nearer elucidating the mystery
than before. The case was such a one as had
never entered into the experience of either man.
To all intents and purposes there was nothing
that would in any way account for the patient's
condition. The fever had left her, and she complained
of no pain, while her mind, save for
occasional relapses, was clear enough. They
were certain it was not a case of paralysis, yet
she was incapable of moving, or of doing
anything to help herself. The duration of her
illness was not sufficient to justify her extreme
weakness, nor to account for the presence of
certain other symptoms. There was nothing for
it, therefore, but for us to possess our souls in
patience and to wait the turn of events. When
the doctors had departed I went in search of
Glenbarth, and gave him their report. The poor<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</SPAN></span>
fellow was far from being consoled by it.
He had hoped to receive good news, and their
inability to give a satisfactory decision only
confirmed his belief in their incompetency. Had
I permitted him to do so, he would have telegraphed
at once for the best medical advice in
Europe, and would have expended half his own
princely revenues in an attempt to make her
herself once more. It was difficult to convince
him that he had not the right to heap liabilities
on the old gentleman's shoulder, which, in honour
bound, he would feel he must repay.</p>
<p>I will not bore my readers with the abusive
arguments against society, and social etiquette,
with which he favoured me in reply to my
speech. The poor fellow was beside himself with
anxiety, and it was difficult to make him understand
that, because he had not placed a narrow
band of gold upon a certain pretty finger, he
was debarred from saving the life of the owner
of that self-same finger. Towards nightfall it
was certain that Miss Trevor's condition was
gradually going from bad to worse. With the
closing of the day the delirium had returned,
and the fever had also come with it. We spent a
wretchedly anxious night, and in the morning,
at the conclusion of his first visit, the doctor
informed me that, in his opinion, it would be
advisable that I should telegraph to the young<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</SPAN></span>
lady's father. This was an extreme step, and,
needless to say, it caused me great alarm. It
was all so sudden that it was scarcely possible to
realize the extent of the calamity. Only two
days before Miss Trevor had been as well as
any of us, and certainly in stronger health than
my wife. Now she was lying, if not at death's
door, at least at no great distance from that
grim portal. Immediately this sad intelligence
was made known to me I hastened to the telegraph-office,
and despatched a message to the
Dean, asking him to come to us with all possible
speed. Before luncheon I received a reply to
the effect that he had already started. Then
we sat ourselves down to wait and to watch,
hoping almost against hope that this beautiful,
happy young life might be spared to us. All
this time we had seen nothing of the Don or
of Nikola. The former, however, had heard of
Miss Trevor's illness, and sent polite messages
as to her condition. I did not tell Glenbarth
of this, for the young man had sufficient to
think of just then without my adding to his
worries.</p>
<p>I must pass on now to describe to you the
arrival of the Dean of Bedminster in Venice.
Feeling that he would be anxious to question me
concerning his daughter's condition, I made a
point of going to meet him alone. Needless to<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</SPAN></span>
say he was much agitated on seeing me, and
implored me to give him the latest bulletin.</p>
<p>"God's will be done," he said quietly, when
he had heard all I had to tell him. "I did not
receive your letter," he remarked, as we made our
way from the station in the direction of Galaghetti's
hotel, "so that you will understand that
I know nothing of the nature of poor Gertrude's
illness. What does the doctor say is the matter
with her?"</p>
<p>I then informed him how the case stood, and
of the uncertainty felt by the two members of
the medical profession I had called in. "Surely
that is very singular, is it not?" he asked, when
I had finished. "There are not many diseases
left that they are unable to diagnose."</p>
<p>"In this case, however, I fear they are at a
loss to assign a name to it," I said. "However,
you will be able very soon to see her for yourself,
and to draw your own conclusions."</p>
<p>The meeting between the worthy old gentleman
and his daughter was on his side affecting in the
extreme. She did not recognize him, nor did
she know my wife. When he joined me in the
drawing-room a quarter of an hour or so later
his grief was pitiful to witness. While we
were talking Glenbarth entered, and I introduced
them to each other. The Dean knew
nothing of the latter's infatuation for his<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</SPAN></span>
daughter, but I fancy, after a time, he must
have guessed that there was something in the
wind from the other's extraordinary sympathy
with him in his trial. As it happened the old
gentleman had not arrived any too soon. That
afternoon Miss Trevor was decidedly worse, and
the medical men expressed their gravest fears
for her safety. All that day and the next we
waited in suspense, but there was no material
change. Nature was fighting her battle stubbornly,
inch by inch. The girl did not seem
any worse, nor was there any visible improvement.
On the doctor's advice a third physician
was called in, but with no greater success than
before. Then on one never-to-be-forgotten
afternoon the first doctor took me on one side
and informed me that in his opinion, and those
of his colleagues, it would not be wise to cherish
any further hopes. The patient was undeniably
weaker, and was growing more so every hour.
With a heart surcharged with sorrow I went to the
Dean's room and broke the news to him. The
poor old man heard me out in silence, and then
walked to the window and looked down upon the
Grand Canal. After a while he turned, and coming
back to me once more laid his hand upon my arm.</p>
<p>"If it is the Lord's will that I lose her, what
can I do but submit?" he said. "When shall I
be allowed to see her?"<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"I will make inquiries," I answered, and
hastened away in search of the doctor. As I
passed along the passage I met Galaghetti. The
little man had been deeply grieved to hear the
sad intelligence, and hastened in search of me at
once.</p>
<p>"M'lord," said he, for do what I would I could
never cure him of the habit, "believe me it is
not so hopeless, though they say so, if you will
but listen to me. There is Doctor Nikola, your
friend! He could cure her if you went to him.
Did he not cure my child?"</p>
<p>I gave a start of surprise. I will confess that
the idea had occurred to me, but I had never
given the probability of putting it into execution
a thought. Why should it not be done? Galaghetti
had reminded me how Nikola had cured
his child when she lay at the point of death, and
the other doctors of Venice had given her up.
He was so enthusiastic in his praises of the
doctor that I felt almost inclined to risk it.
When I reached the drawing-room Glenbarth
hastened towards me.</p>
<p>"What news?" he inquired, his anxiety
showing itself plainly upon his face.</p>
<p>I shook my head.</p>
<p>"For God's sake don't trifle with me," he
cried. "You can have no idea what I am
suffering."<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>Feeling that it would be better if I told him
everything, I made a clean breast of it. He
heard me out before he spoke.</p>
<p>"She must not die," he said, with the fierceness
of despair. "If there is any power on earth
that can be invoked, it shall be brought to bear.
Can you not think of anything? Try! Remember
that every second is of importance."</p>
<p>"Would it be safe to try Nikola?" I inquired,
looking him steadfastly in the face. "Galaghetti
is wild for me to do so."</p>
<p>In spite of his dislike to Nikola, Glenbarth
jumped at the suggestion as a drowning man
clutches at a straw.</p>
<p>"Let us find him at once," he cried, seizing me
by the arm. "If any one can save her he is the
man. Let us go to him without a moment's
delay."</p>
<p>"No, no," I answered, "that will never do.
Even in a case of such gravity the proprieties
must be observed. I must consult the doctors
before calling in another."</p>
<p>I regret very much to say that here the Duke
made use of some language that was neither
parliamentary nor courteous to those amiable
gentlemen.</p>
<p>I sought them out and placed the matter
before them. To the idea of calling in a fourth
consultant they had not the least objection,<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</SPAN></span>
though they were all of the opinion that it could
do no good. When, however, I mentioned the
fact that that consultant's name was Nikola, I
could plainly see that a storm was rising.</p>
<p>"Gentlemen," I said, "you must forgive me
if I speak plainly and to the point. You have
given us to understand that your patient's case
is hopeless. Now I have had considerable experience
of Doctor Nikola's skill, and I feel that
we should not be justified in withholding him
from our counsel, if he will consent to be called
in. I have no desire to act contrary to medical
etiquette, but we must remember that the
patient's life comes before aught else."</p>
<p>One doctor looked at the other, and all shook
their heads.</p>
<p>"I fear," said the tallest of them, who invariably
acted as spokesman, "that if the services of
the gentleman in question are called in, it will
be necessary for my colleagues and myself to
abandon our interest in the case. I do not of
course know how far your knowledge extends,
but I hope you will allow me to say, sir, that
the most curious stories are circulated both as to
the behaviour and the attainments of this Doctor
Nikola."</p>
<p>Though I knew it to be true, his words nettled
me. And yet I had such a deeply-rooted belief
in Nikola that, although they were determined<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</SPAN></span>
to give up the case, I felt we should still be
equally, if not more, powerful without them.</p>
<p>"I sincerely hope, gentlemen," I said, "that
you will not do as you propose. Nevertheless, I
feel that I should not be myself acting rightly if
I were to allow your professional prejudices to
stand in the way of my friend's recovery."</p>
<p>"In that case I fear there is nothing left to us
but to most reluctantly withdraw," said one of
the men.</p>
<p>"You are determined?"</p>
<p>"Quite determined," they replied together.
Then the tallest added, "We much regret it, but
our decision is irrevocable."</p>
<p>Ten minutes later they had left the hotel in a
huff, and I found myself seated upon the horns
of a serious dilemma. What would my position
be if Nikola's presence should exercise a bad
effect upon the patient, or if he should decline
to render us assistance? In that case I should
have offended the best doctors in Venice, and
should in all probability have killed her. It was
a nice position to be placed in. One thing,
however, was as certain as anything could be,
and that was the fact that there was no time to
lose. My wife was seriously alarmed when I
informed her of my decision, but both Glenbarth
and I felt that we were acting for the best, and
the Dean sided with us.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"Since you deem it necessary, go in search of
Doctor Nikola at once," said my wife, when the
latter had left us. "Implore him to come
without delay; in another hour it may be too
late." Then in a heart-broken whisper she
added, "She is growing weaker every moment.
Oh, Dick, Heaven grant that we are not acting
wrongly, and that he may be able to save her."</p>
<p>"I feel convinced that we are doing right," I
answered. "And now I will go in search of
Nikola, and if possible bring him back with me."</p>
<p>"God grant you may be successful in your
search," said Glenbarth, wringing my hand. "If
Nikola saves her I will do anything he may ask,
and still be grateful to him all the days of my
life."</p>
<p>Then I set off upon my errand.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</SPAN></span></p>
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