The lights in the lower window, and in the passage, told Hugh that he
had arrived in good time at Redburn Road.
He found Mr. Vimpany and the young Irishman sitting together, in the
friendliest manner, under the composing influence of tobacco. Primed,
as he would have said himself, with only a third glass of grog, the
hospitable side of the doctor's character was displayed to view. He at
once accepted Mountjoy's visit as offering a renewal of friendly
relations between them.
"Forgive and forget," he said, "there's the way to settle that little
misunderstanding, after our dinner at the inn. You know Mr. Mountjoy,
my lord? That's right. Draw in your chair, Mountjoy. My professional
prospects threaten me with ruin--but while I have a roof over my head,
there's always a welcome for a friend. My dear fellow, I have every
reason to believe that the doctor who sold me this practice was a
swindler. The money is gone, and the patients don't come. Well! I am
not quite bankrupt yet; I can offer you a glass of grog. Mix for
yourself--we'll make a night of it."
Hugh explained (with the necessary excuses) that his object was to say
a few words to Lord Harry in private. The change visible in the
doctor's manner, when he had been made acquainted with this
circumstance, was not amiably expressed; he had the air of a man who
suspected that an unfair advantage had been taken of him. Lord Harry,
on his side, appeared to feel some hesitation in granting a private
interview to Mr. Mountjoy.
"Is it about Miss Henley?" he asked.
Hugh admitted that it was. Lord Harry thereupon suggested that they
might be acting wisely if they avoided the subject. Mountjoy answered
that there were, on the contrary, reasons for approaching the subject
sufficiently important to have induced him to leave London for
Hampstead at a late hour of the night.
Hearing this, Lord Harry rose to lead the way to another room. Excluded
from his visitor's confidence, Mr. Vimpany could at least remind
Mountjoy that he exercised authority as master of the house. "Oh, take
him upstairs, my lord," said the doctor; "you are at home under my
humble roof!"
The two young men faced each other in the barely-furnished
drawing-room; both sufficiently doubtful of the friendly result of the
conference to abstain from seating themselves. Hugh came to the point,
without wasting time in preparatory words. Admitting that he had heard
of Miss Henley's engagement, he asked if Lord Harry was aware of the
disastrous consequences to the young lady which would follow her
marriage. The reply to this was frankly expressed. The Irish lord knew
nothing of the consequences to which Mr. Mountjoy had alluded. Hugh at
once enlightened him, and evidently took him completely by surprise.