Mr. Schöfer moved through the dimly lighted chamber with all the
cat-like stealthiness of an accomplished valet, arranging the various
articles of his master's wardrobe, and giving, so far as he was able,
the semblance of an accustomed spot to this new and strange locality.
Already, indeed, it was very unlike what it had been during Harcourt's
occupation. Guns, whips, fishing-tackle, dog-leashes, and landing-nets
had all disappeared, as well as uncouth specimens of costume for boating
or the chase; and in their place were displayed all the accessories
of an elaborate toilet, laid out with a degree of pomp and ostentation
somewhat in contrast to the place. A richly embroidered dressing-gown
lay on the back of a chair, before which stood a pair of velvet slippers
worked in gold. On the table in front of these, a whole regiment of
bottles, of varied shape and color, were ranged, the contents being
curious essences and delicate odors, every one of which entered into
some peculiar stage of that elaborate process Sir Horace Upton went
through, each morning of his life, as a preparation for the toils of the
day.
Adjoining the bed stood a smaller table, covered with various
medicaments, tinctures, essences, infusions, and extracts, whose subtle
qualities he was well skilled in, and but for whose timely assistance he
would not have believed himself capable of surviving throughout the day.
Beside these was a bulky file of prescriptions, the learned documents of
doctors of every country of Europe, all of whom had enjoyed their little
sunshine of favor, and all of whom had ended by “mistaking his case.”
These had now been placed in readiness for the approaching consultation
with “Glencore's doctor;” and Mr. Schöfer still glided noiselessly from
place to place, preparing for that event.
“I 'm not asleep, Fritz,” said a weak, plaintive voice from the bed.
“Let me have my aconite,--eighteen drops; a full dose to-day, for this
journey has brought back the pains.”
“Yes, Excellenz,” said Fritz, in a voice of broken accentuation.
“I slept badly,” continued his master, in the same complaining tone.
“The sea beat so heavily against the rocks, and the eternal plash,
plash, all night irritated and worried me. Are you giving me the right
tincture?”
“Yes, Excellenz,” was the brief reply.
“You have seen the doctor,--what is he like, Fritz?”
A strange grimace and a shrug of the shoulders were Mr. Schöfer's only
answer.
“I thought as much,” said Upton, with a heavy sigh. “They called him
the wild growth of the mountains last night, and I fancied what that was
like to prove. Is he young?”
A shake of the head implied not.
“Nor old?”
Another similar movement answered the question.
“Give me a comb, Fritz, and fetch the glass here.” And now Sir Horace
arranged his silky hair more becomingly, and having exchanged one or
two smiles with his image in the mirror, lay back on the pillow, saying,
“Tell him I am ready to see him.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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