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Updated: August 22, 2024
"It is merely a name given to me by Monsieur Alresca when I entered his service several years ago. My name is John Smedley." "Well, Mr. Smedley," I said, putting half a sovereign into his hand, "I perceive that you are a man of intelligence." "Hope so, sir." "I am a doctor, and to-morrow, as I dare say you heard, I am coming to live here with your master in order to attend him medically."
The silence between us was difficult to bear. I broke it. "The question is, What am I to do? Alresca is dead. Shall I respect his wish, or shall I open the packet now? If he could have foreseen your anxiety, he probably would not have made these conditions. Besides, who can say that the circumstances he hints at have not already arisen?
Or had the sudden apparition of Rosa created his love anew? Why had she once refused him? She seemed to be sufficiently fond of him. But she had killed him. Directly or indirectly she had been the cause of his death. And as I looked at her, my profound grief for Alresca made me her judge.
The renowned impresario had advanced nearer to the front of our box, and was standing immediately behind my chair. My heart was beating violently with apprehension under my shirt-front. Where was Alresca? It was surely impossible that he should fail to appear! But he ought to have been on the stage, and he was not on the stage. I stole a glance at Sir Cyril's face.
Rosa, in all the splendor of the bridal costume, had passed her arms under Alresca's armpits, and so raised his head and shoulders against her breast. She was gazing into the face of the spangled knight, and the tears were falling from her eyes into his. "My poor Alresca! My poor Alresca!" she kept murmuring.
Yet again I hesitated. It was the sound of Rosa's sobbing that arrested me. Once more she dropped to her knees. "Alresca!" she moaned. He seized her hand and kissed it. And then I came forward, summoning all my courage to assert the doctor's authority.
My dear child, do you imagine that I cannot see through your poor little plan? Mrs. Sullivan Smith has been talking to you, and it has occurred to you that if you cast me off, the anger of that that thing may be appeased, and I may be saved from the fate that overtook Alresca. You were calling on Emmeline to ask her advice finally, as she appears to be mixed up in this affair.
Great man as Toddy was, he had an eye on "saxpences," and it was evident that, in spite of the instructions which he had given me as to the disposal of Alresca, Toddy was claiming the patient for his own. I retired. It was the only thing I could do.
Elsa appeared amid her ladies, but there was no Lohengrin in the other crowd. The double chorus proceeded, and then a certain excitement was visible on the stage, and the conductor made signs with his left hand. "Smart, what's wrong? Where's Alresca?" It was Sullivan who spoke. "He'll sail in all right," Sir Cyril said calmly. "Don't worry."
I have never understood why Alresca did this, and I have always thought that it was a mere kind caprice on his part. The second surprise was a visit from the Burgomaster of the city. He came clothed in his official robes. It was a call of the most rigid ceremony.
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