It is further said, that the disease was of several years’ standing; that Mr. Gould was aware that he had it, and that his instructions to his physician, Dr. Munn, were that it should be kept a secret between them as long as possible. When, therefore, inquiries, no matter by whom, were made of Dr. Munn as to Mr. Gould’s ailment, he replied that it was nervous dyspepsia, and truthfully, for all consumptives suffer more or less from that complaint. To aid his physician in concealing all signs of the disease, the somewhat extravagant assertion is made that Mr. Gould was able to prevent himself, by an effort, from coughing. The secret was well kept, and until a couple of weeks ago Mr. Gould is said to have had confidence that Dr. Munn’s efforts to delay the progress of the disease would be attended with some measure of success, and that he would be able to keep up and get around for some years. But when he came down from Irvington some weeks ago he was not so confident. A slight hemorrhage was followed by several more severe. Mr. Gould attended the wedding of his son and Miss Shrady, at Dr. Shrady’s house on November 26, and that was the last time he went out. He became so weak that he took to his plain oak bed in his plain bedroom in the extension over the conservatory, where he died. Dr. John P. Munn, Mr. Gould’s physician, is probably the one man in the world who knew Mr. Gould really well. He is about forty-five years old and stoutly built. He wears long, black side whiskers. There is a story that Dr. Munn’s acquaintance with Mr. Gould was the result of accident. He had come to this city to practice after graduating from a medical school in the interior of the state, and put up his sign near Mr. Gould’s house. One day Mr. Gould was taken ill, and, his family physician not being at home, the young Dr. Munn was called in. His treatment was quickly efficacious, and Mr. Gould, liking him, a few months later made him a flattering offer to look after his physical welfare all the time. The doctor agreed, and has not now, therefore, a very extensive general practice. But as compensation for that loss, he has seen many parts of the world from the bridge of Mr. Gould’s yacht, and by following hints dropped from the lips of the great manipulator he has acquired a beautiful home on West Fifty-eighth street and a handsome income to keep it going. Mr. Gould had every confidence in Dr. Munn, and liked him personally, and, by way of showing his esteem for him, he had him made, a few years ago, a director in the Western Union Telegraph Company. [Illustration: FUNERAL OF JAY GOULD FROM HIS NEW YORK RESIDENCE.] CHAPTER XV. GOULD LAID TO REST.