When Sir Willoughby Sperm learned of his patient's progress, he struck
the words "Major Lyveden" out of his diary. The action cost him
exactly one hundred guineas, and the secretary by his side bit her lip.
To keep that Saturday free for his visit to Hampshire, she had refused
nine appointments. But, if he was a bad business man, Sperm was a good
doctor. Anthony was out of the wood. Very well. Considering the
nature of the peril with which the wood had been quick, the less the
fugitive saw of strange doctors, the better for him. To insist upon
the gravity of his late disorder was most undesirable. Besides, if at
this juncture a specialist's visit to Bell Hammer could serve any
useful purpose, Heron was the man to pay it. It was he who had walked
and talked with Lyveden when the latter's brain had been sick. So he
alone of the doctors could compare Philip drunk with Philip sober.
Happily no such comparison was necessary. Had it been vital, it could
not have been made. For the patient to renew the acquaintance of the
artist he had met at Gramarye--and that in the person of a
distinguished brain specialist--would hardly have conduced to his
health of mind. Indeed, from the moment that Anthony had reached Bell
Hammer in safety, so far as the inmates of that house were concerned,
the very name of Dr. Heron was, by his own advice, religiously
forgotten as though the man had never been. It was natural, however,
that one who had done so much to arrest the disorder should care to
hear how Anthony was faring. By a mutual arrangement the cherubic Dr.
Gilpin wrote to the former faithfully three times a week.
Similar, though less frequent, reports were regularly rendered to Mr.
Justice Molehill.
One of these latter I will set out, for it was a wise man that wrote
it, and the matter is to the point. I would, sirs, that I could show
you the handwriting, so fine and easy to read.
_Bell Hammer,
nr. Brooch,
Hants.
April 11th, 1921._
_DEAR SIR GILES,_
_Major Lyveden continues mercifully to make good progress._
_I saw him myself yesterday for the first time, and must make haste to
confess that I am overjoyed. When I say this, you will understand that
he is not only the stranger whom we are helping to the acquisition of a
great fortune, but the man whom my niece is delighting to honour.
Lyveden is a man of great personal charm and fine character, and I am
sure that he will administer his heritage wisely and faithfully, and
that he will make Valerie a proud and happy woman. I am glad to say,
too, that your memory of his appearance is as true as your judgment.
In short, he is a splendid specimen of manhood._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account