She stood before me, pale as death, her great eyes blazing in her head.
But not one word did she reply, and when I fell exhausted on the
pillows, she turned with one long glance, and slowly glided from the
room.
Five minutes later, she returned, gowned for the street, but I merely
glanced at her, then closed my eyes in icy scorn. In perfect silence
she approached the bed and placed some parcel lightly on the cover-lid.
I heard her steps retreat, and presently the door was very softly
closed.
Sure that she was gone, I started up in order to investigate her latest
act. The parcel contained an account sheet covered with her writing,
which showed me that my debts to date approached one hundred pounds.
Within the cover were banknotes for two hundred.
It seemed that my vituperations had stung to life in her some lingering
spark of shame. Drearily I congratulated myself, and tried to find
comfort in the thought that, at all events, I should not be obliged to
recommence my battle with the world entirely penniless. But I was sick
at heart, sick and absolutely hopeless.
The next week passed and left me more pronouncedly improved in health,
but desperate in mind; so desperate that I was fit for any villainy.
For still another week I nursed myself, hating to see my little stock
of money dwindle, but not daring to begin the struggle without a
stock-in-trade of strength.
With that at length acquired, I quitted the hotel and went to Bruton
Street, where I resolved to take up my abode until, by dint of luck or
craft, I might repair my scattered fortunes.
My first act was to disguise myself as a professional and somewhat
portly gentleman. For a model I took the physician who had recently
attended me, and as I had closely and frequently remarked his ways, I
was able to reproduce him with nice enough fidelity. Having armed
myself with a revolver, I employed a cab and drove straightway to Sir
Charles Venner's residence in Harley Street, fiercely determined to
settle my account with him at once, for good and all. To my
astonishment, however, I found the place in the hands of another
surgeon, who curtly informed me that Sir Charles Venner, several weeks
ago, had sold his practice, and gone abroad to parts unknown. I drove
thence to Dr. Fulton's house, and a similar story was related there.
Thoroughly enraged, I went to my old master's place in Curzon Street.
The lackey, who opened the door, seemed much astonished at my question.
"Why, sir," said he, "Lady Farmborough lives here now. Sir William
Dagmar sold his lease to her before he went abroad, more than a month
ago!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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