"No, sir," he said, "injuries like yours require time. Nature must be able to thoroughly mend the damage done. I could have helped her to patch you up--to cobble you, so to speak; but the tender spot would break out again. I must do my work thoroughly." "But your drives over here--your bill will be monstrous." "Large, but not monstrous, my dear sir," said Dr Benson, smiling; "and what are a few pounds compared to your valuable life?" Tom Candlish lay thinking that there was something in this, and that it was far better to pay even a hundred pounds than to have been carried to the Candlish mausoleum, and without paying out North for the injuries he had received. "How's North?" he said. "Oh, very well, I believe. Dr North and I do not meet very often. A clever young man, though--a very clever young man." "Humph! Don't believe in him," said Tom Candlish. "But he has been very ill." "Little touch of sunstroke, or something of that kind, sir. I saw his patients for two days only; then he was about again." "Humph!" ejaculated Tom Candlish. "Doctor, I'm low to-day; I must have some champagne." "My dear sir! out of the question." "Brandy, then!" "Worse and worse." "But I'm sinking. This cursed low feeling is horrible." "Well, well!" said the doctor smoothly, as, after a moment's consideration, he felt that the wine would only throw his patient back for a few days, and give him a longer period for attendance; "perhaps a drop--say, half a glass--would not hurt you, but I would not exceed half a glass; champagne glass, mind. Good morning." Dr Benson took his departure, perfectly aware that the young baronet would be exceedingly ill the next morning; and so he was, for Tom Candlish had a medical sanction for taking a little champagne; and the butler produced the bottle--one of many dozens laid in by Squire Luke, who had purchased them through a friend as a special brand. It was a special brand of paraffin quality, well doctored with Hambro' spirit; and as, after the first glass, Tom Candlish argued that the rest would be wasted or drunk by the servants, an opened bottle of the effervescent wine being useless if not utilised at once, he, in spite of the protestations of the butler, finished the bottle, and threw himself back for another week. At the Rectory, matters had settled down somewhat, the hours gliding by without any discovery being made; and, after the first excitement and dread, Leo began to feel that she would soon be able to resume her meetings with her lover. North had ceased to call at the Rectory, and they had not yet come face to face. But this troubled Leo less and less. As the days had passed on, and the _eclaircissement_ had halted, so had her strength of mind and feeling of defiance increased.