*CHAPTER XXXII*
*NO PLACE LIKE HOME*
Samuel Flower had taken a turn for the worse and, as Wilfrid's practisedeye could tell, this was no case for the average woman nurse. Flower wassitting up with his hands round his knees glaring at Wilfrid, thoughthere was no recognition in his eyes.
"Send for Cotter," he muttered. "Why isn't Cotter here? Don't tell methat that rascal has betrayed me like the rest of them! Not that Itrust him, not that I trust any of them for that matter. But he oughtto have been here an hour ago. Who are you?"
The question was asked with an abruptness that almost startled Wilfrid.For a moment the cloud hanging over Flower's brain had cleared away andhe knew where he was and in whose presence he was lying.
"I am Mercer," Wilfrid said soothingly. "Don't you know me?"
"Oh, I know you," Flower whispered. "I recognize you. Keep thosefellows away, will you? Don't let them come here again. I tell you itis terrible. I lie fast asleep and then dream, and dream, and dream,and yet my brain is clear and I know everything that is going on aroundyou. But that is nothing to what has to come, Mercer. It is pleasurecompared with the awful sensation when they wind that dreadful thingabout the head and you lie helpless, watching those knots coming closerand closer till the brain sets fire----"
The words trailed off incoherently and Flower closed his eyes for amoment. The brief interval of sense vanished and he began again to fumeand threaten.
"Keep them away from me!" he cried. "Keep them away from me! What didyou say your name was? It wasn't Cotter. Oh, I remember, it wasMercer--Mercer, the dog that I am going to crush when the time comes asif he were an empty eggshell. He saved my life once, but what of that?The fellow is in the way and he must go. But that isn't what I want youfor. I want you to send for that doctor. Telephone for him at once.Find him at any cost. I can't stay here. I dare not stay here.Whatever happens I must get back to Maldon Grange. Now go and findhim."
The last words came in a harsh tone of command, then Flower's suddenaccess of strength failed him and he collapsed upon the bed an inertmass, scarcely moving and hardly breathing. Wilfrid hurried downstairsinto the dining-room. The nurse was seated by the fire sipping at aglass of port-wine and Beatrice was trying to soothe her.
"It is all right," Beatrice explained. "I have managed to get Dr.Shelton on the telephone and he may be here at any moment. I suppose hewill tell us what to do."
In a minute or two Shelton's car drove up to the door and the doctoralighted. He listened gravely to all that Wilfrid had to say and foundtime to address a few words to the distressed nurse.
"You are not to blame," he said. "I did not expect complications likethis. I shall have to trespass still farther upon Dr. Mercer's time.It will take me an hour to find a competent male nurse."
Beatrice glanced imploringly at Wilfrid. In as many words she wasasking him to stay and see her through her trouble. He shrugged hisshoulders more or less carelessly. What did it matter? It was only aquestion of a few hours till his house of cards fell about his ears. Itwould only mean postponing his explanation to his mother till thefollowing day.
"I am in your hands," he said. "As Miss Galloway knows, there isnothing I would not do for her. So long as I get back to Oldboroughsome time to-night I shall be satisfied."
Flower still lay unconscious as Wilfrid and his companion reached thebedroom. Wilfrid gave Shelton a graphic account of what had taken placeduring the last half-hour.
"Upon my word, I am half disposed to let the patient have his own way,"he said. "It is very likely he will do much better at Maldon Grange.Mr. Flower has something distressing on his mind, and I fancy he hasbeen the victim of some outrage that has more or less unhinged hisreason. In point of fact, we ought to call in the police. But it may bewiser to get our man back to Maldon Grange first."
"You are disposed to try it?" Wilfrid asked.
"Assuredly," Shelton replied. "It is not very difficult. If we waittill evening we can hire a covered motor and take Mr. Flower to hiscountry house as quietly and comfortably as if he were going out todinner. It is repeatedly done, as you know, in cases of infectiousdisease. And if you don't mind, I should like you to go down to MaldonGrange with him. I cannot manage it myself as I have two operationsthis afternoon. I know that it is abusing your kindness----"
"Not at all," Wilfrid said. "I will see the thing through. I presumeyou will come down to Maldon Grange to-morrow?"
Shelton promised and went his way. He had forgotten almost all aboutthe case before he reached his motor, and Wilfrid watched him whirlingdown the street not without envy. What was almost a matter of life ordeath to him was merely an ordinary incident to the distinguishedsurgeon.
The afternoon began to drag. Luncheon was a thing of the past and stillthere was no male nurse. Not that he was needed, for Flower still laycomatose, opening his eyes from time to time to take such medicine asShelton had prescribed. Wilfrid slipped out presently and despatched acouple of telegrams by means of the telephone. One was to Swan Russell,the other to his friend Vardon at Oldborough. He would know the worstof his position in an hour or two. When the replies came, they were byno means reassuring. Russell was detained and could hold out no hope ofseeing Wilfrid till to-morrow, whilst Vardon's reply was moreunsatisfactory. He had failed to get the money from his client inCastlebridge and was awaiting Wilfrid's further instructions. With abitter laugh Wilfrid screwed up the telegrams and threw them into thefire.
The end of another act of the drama, so far as it concerned himself,could not be delayed more than four-and-twenty hours. And yet, close toWilfrid's hands, lay the document which would make him a free man if heonly had the courage to destroy it. But that temptation was past andgone. He would do nothing dishonourable. Wilfrid beheld the desk inwhich the bill lay without the slightest desire to lay hands upon thepaper. In a restless fashion he wandered about the bedroom till duskbegan to fall, waiting patiently to be relieved. It was nearlydinner-time before the male nurse put in an appearance and Wilfrid wasfree to leave the house if he liked. As he came down the stairs he metBeatrice.
"You are not going yet?" she said. "You must dine with me? Besides, Iunderstand you promised Dr. Shelton you would come down to Maldon Grangewith us. Everything has been arranged and the car will be here aboutnine o'clock. It seems strange my uncle should fancy he will be betterin a great, lonely house like Maldon Grange. But Dr. Shelton thinks itright to humour him. I would rather stay here."
The girl shuddered as she spoke and her face turned pale.
"You don't want to go home?" Wilfrid asked.
"I am afraid to go," Beatrice confessed. "During the past day or two mynerves have broken down. The mere thought of returning to that mansionsets me trembling, but I must go because duty to my uncle bids me."
Wilfrid made no reply. He was watching how Beatrice made a pretence ofeating her dinner. A sudden idea occurred to him.
"Something could be managed," he said. "The nurse will be with youruncle and I will stay at Maldon Grange to-night if you like. We shallbe there a little after ten, and as soon as your uncle is madecomfortable I can take you into Oldborough and you can stay with mymother. You will be company for her, and it will also be better for youto be away from Maldon Grange. Now don't make any objection. You mustsee the advantages of the plan."
Beatrice contested the point no farther. She was too unstrung to argue,but she smiled gratefully.
"Very well," she said. "It shall be as you say, and I hope you willforget what I said to-day."
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