The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-22
(Continued.)
CHAPTER XIII.


Mr. Rolfe surveyed the two women
4 With a mild. inonensive. ox-like gaze. and
invited them to be seated with homely
civiiity.
He sat down at his desk. and turning TO
Lady Bassett. said. rather dreamily;
"one moment. please; let me look at the
case and my notes
First his homely appearance, and now
q certain languor about his manner. dis
couraged Lady Bassett more than II need:
for all artists must pay for their excite
4 ments with occasional languor. Her hands
trembled. and she began to gulp and try
not 10 cry.
Mr.. Rolfe observed directly. and said
rather kindly: You are agitated. and no
wonder"
He then opened a sort OF china-closet.
poured a few drops OF a colorless liquid
from tiny bottle into a wineglass. and
filed the glass with water from a filter.
"Drink that, IN you please" She looked at
! him with her eyes brimming Must r.
"Yes; IL III do yo good. for once in
/, way. II is only Ignatia."
She drank Il by degrees. and tear
along with II that fell into the glass
Meantime, Mr.. Rolfe had returned TO
his notes and examined them. He then
addressed her. half-stifrly. half-kindly:
Lady Bassett. whatever may be your
is mental or bodily or mixture OF the
two-his clandestine examination by
bought physicians, and his violent cap
!. ture. the natural effect OF which must
have been to excite him and retard his
cure. were wicked and barbarous acts,
contrary to Gods law and the common
law OF England. and. indeed. to all hu-
man law. except our shallow. incautious
Statutes de Lunatico; they were an In
suit 10 yourself who ought at least 10
have been consulted. for your rights are
higher and purer than Richard Bassetts:
therefore, as wife bereaved OF your hus-
band by fraud and violence on the bare
letter OF a paltry statute whose spirit has
been violated. you are quite justified In
coming 10 me or 10 any public man you
think can help your husband and you"
Then. with a certain bonhomie so lay
aside your nervousness; let us go into
this matter sensiby. like big man and
a little man. or like an old woman and a
young woman. whichever you prefer"
Lady Bassett looked AT him. and smiled
assent. She felt a great deal more at her
ease after this opening.
II dare not advise you yet. must
know more than Mr. Angelo has told me
Will you answer my questions frankly?"
II will try. sir
Charles Bassett 10 the house so much?"
His own. He felt himself UNFIT for So
ciety."
'Did he describe his ailment to you
them"
Yes"
''All the better; what did he say?"
HE said that. at times. a cloud seemed
20 come into his head. and then he lost
all power OF mind and he could not bear
to he seen In that condition"
This was after the epileptic seizure?"
Yes, sir"
"Humph! Now will you tell me how Mr.
Bassett, by mere words. could so enrage
Sir Charles as to give him ft?"
LADY Bassett hesitated
What did he say 10 Sir Charies?''
HE did not speak to him His child and
nurse werYthere. and he called out aloud
, for Sir Carries to hear. and told the
nurse to hold UP his child TO look AZ his
Inheritance"
Malicious fool? But did this enrage Sir
Charles so much as 70 give him a ht?"
Yes"
''He must be very sensitive"
ION that subject"
Mr. Rolfe was silent: and now. for the
time, appeared to think intently.
His study bore fruit apparently; for he
turned TO Lady Bassett and said sud
denly: What Is the strangest thing Sir
Charles has said OF late-the very strang-
est?'
Lady Bassett turned red. and then pale
and made no reply
MT Rolfe rose and walked up to Mary
Wells
p What Is the maddest thing your mas
ter has ever said7"
Mary Wells. instead OF replying, looked
At her mistress.
The writer instantly put his great body
between them. Come. none OF that" said
ne II don't want falsehood-I want the
truth
La, sir. don't know. NV master ba is
not mad I'm sure The dueerest thing he
ever said was-he did say at one time