"
"Does the doctor call it a dangerous case?"
"Well, sir, not to deceive you, he ast me if Mr. Saltram had any friends
as I could send for; and I says no, not to my knowledge; 'for,' says Mr.
Mew, 'if he have any relations or friends near at hand, they ought to be
told that he's in a bad way;' and only this morning he said as how he
should like to call in a physician, for the case was a bad one."
"I see. There is danger evidently," Gilbert said gravely. "I will wait
and hear what the doctor says. He will come again to-day, I suppose?"
"Yes, sir; he's sure to come in the evening."
"Good; I will stay till the evening. I should like you to go round
immediately to this Mr. Mew's house, and ask for the address of some
skilled nurse, and then go on, in a cab if necessary, and fetch her."
"I could do that, sir, of course,--not but what I feel myself capable of
nursing the poor dear gentleman."
"You can't nurse him night and day, my good woman. Do what I tell you,
and bring back a professional nurse as soon as you can. If Mr. Mew should
be out, his people are likely to know the address of such a person."
He gave the woman some silver, and despatched her; and then, being alone,
sat down quietly in the sick-room to think out the situation.
Yes, there was no longer any doubt; that piteous appeal to Marian had
settled the question.
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