'Do you mean to say she's in love with that young Gresham?'
This was too much for the doctor's patience. 'Sir Louis,' said he, 'I can forgive you much for your father's sake. I can also forgive something on the score of your own ill-health. But you ought to know, you ought by this time to have learnt, that there are some things which a man cannot forgive. I will not talk to you about my niece; and remember this, also, I will not have her troubled by you:' and, so saying, the doctor left him.
On the next day the baronet was sufficiently recovered to be able to resume his braggadocio airs. He swore at Janet; insisted on being served by his own man; demanded in a loud voice, but in vain, that his liqueur-case should be restored to him; and desired that post-horses might be ready for him on the morrow. On that day he got up and ate his dinner in his bedroom. On the next morning he countermanded the horses, informing the doctor that he did so because he had little bit of business to transact with Squire Gresham before he left the place! With some difficulty, the doctor made him understand that the squire would not see him on business; and it was at last decided, that Mr Gazebee should be invited to call on him at the doctor's house; and this Mr Gazebee agreed to do, in order to prevent the annoyance of having the baronet up at Greshamsbury.
On this day, the evening before Mr Gazebee's visit, Sir Louis condescended to come down to dinner. He dined, however, tete-a-tete with the doctor. Mary was not there, nor was anything said as to her absence.
Sir Louis Scatcherd never set eyes upon her again.
He bore himself arrogantly on that evening, having resumed the airs and would-be dignity which he thought belonged to him as a man of rank and property. In his periods of low spirits, he was abject and humble enough; abject and fearful of the lamentable destiny which at these moments he believed to be in store for him. But it was one of the peculiar symptoms of his state, that as he partially recovered his bodily health, the tone of his mind recovered itself also, and his fears for the time were relieved.
There was very little said between him and the doctor that evening. The doctor sat, guarding the wine, and thinking when he should have his house to himself again. Sir Louis sat moody, every now and then uttering some impertinence as to the Greshams and the Greshamsbury property, and, at an early hour, allowed Joe to put him to bed.
The horses were ordered on the next day for three, and, as two, Mr Gazebee came to the house. He had never been there before, nor had he ever met Dr Thorne except at the squire's dinner. On this occasion he asked only for the baronet.
'Ah! ah! I'm glad you're come, Mr Gazebee; very glad,' said Sir Louis; acting the part of the rich, great man with all the power he had. 'I want to ask you a few questions so as to make it all clear sailing between us.'
'As you have asked to see me, I have come, Sir Louis,' said the other, putting on much dignity as he spoke. 'But would it not be better that any business there may be should be done among the lawyers?'
'The lawyers are very well, I dare say; but when a man has so large a stake at interest as I have in this Greshamsbury property, why, you see, Mr Gazebee, he feels a little inclined to look after it himself. Now, do you know, Mr Gazebee, how much it is that Mr Gresham owes me?'
Mr Gazebee, of course, did know very well; but he was not going to discuss the subject with Sir Louis, if he could help it.
