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But what if she should not die? What if this nameless languor, this mysterious atrophy, taken vigorously in hand by Dr. Jedd, should be vanquished, and the girl should live? What indeed? A sharp spasm contracted the stockbroker's hard cold face as he pictured to himself the result of failure.
He paced the room, waiting for the appearance of the doctor; and with almost every turn he looked at the clock upon the chimneypiece. How intolerable seemed the slow progress of the moments! How long that man Jedd was staying in the sick-room! And yet not long; it was he, Philip Sheldon, who was losing count of time. Where was Valentine? He opened the door of the room, and looked out.
"Great Heaven, how am I to save her?" exclaimed Valentine. He could not contemplate the subject in its broad social aspect; he could only think of this one dear life at stake. "To send this Dr. Jedd might be to hasten her death; to send a less efficient man would be mere childishness. WHAT shall I do?"
Valentine cried, impetuously. "I am to meet Burkham in Burlington Row directly I have got your advice." "What for?" "To see Dr. Jedd, and take him down to Hastings, if possible." "That won't do." "Why not?" "Because Jedd's appearance would give Phil the office. Jedd gave evidence on the Fryar trial, and must be a marked man to him. All Jedd can tell you is that Charlotte is being poisoned.
Jedd knew that in such a case all post-mortem inquiry must end in confusion and perplexity, statement and counter-statement from medical witnesses, who would contradict one another persistently in the support of their pet theories, and who would regard the investigation as a very convenient opportunity for ventilating their own opinions and airing their own importance.
Jedd as he left Philip Sheldon's house, and was driven back to town in that gentleman's carriage. On the road there was much serious talk between Miss Halliday's physician and Miss Halliday's lover. Valentine was still very grave and very anxious when he took his leave of Dr. Jedd; but he was more hopeful than he had been for the last few days.
Do you think I shall not hurry back to you? My dearest one, when I return, it will be to stay with you for ever." She was too ill to note the significance of his words; she only knew that they gave her comfort. He hurried from the room. In less than an hour he must be at the London Bridge terminus, or in all probability the five o'clock train would carry Dr. Jedd to St. Leonards; and on Dr.
Sheldon cared only to master the main facts contained in it, which were these: His wife had left him for ever. Dr. Jedd and Valentine Hawkehurst had told her of something something that affected the safety of her darling and only child and the knowledge of which must separate her for ever from him. Of the money which she had brought to him she claimed nothing.
Here Valentine found Mr. Burkham, pale and anxious, waiting in a little den of a third room, on the ground-floor a ghastly little room, hung with anatomical plates, and with some wax preparations in jars, on the mantelpiece, by way of ornament. To them presently came Dr. Jedd, as lively and business-like as if Miss Halliday's case had been a question of taking out a double-tooth.
But there is one thing to be considered." "What?" "The interference of Jedd may only make that man desperate. He may hasten matters now as he hastened matters before.
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