"A family affair?" I questioned.
"No; I bought it only a few years ago from a friend. I fear I cannot
boast of much family. My mother made lace, my father was a
schoolmaster. They are both dead, and I have no relatives."
Somewhere in the building a clock struck three, and at that instant
there was a tap at the door, and Alresca's valet discreetly entered.
"Monsieur rang?"
"No, Alexis. Leave us."
Comprehending that it was at last Alresca's hour for retiring, I rose
to leave, and called the man back.
"Good night, dear friend," said Alresca, pressing my hand. "I shall
expect you to-morrow, and in the meantime a room shall be prepared for
you. Au revoir."
Alexis conducted me to the door. As he opened it he made a civil
remark about the beauty of the night. I glanced at his face.
"You are English, aren't you?" I asked him.
"Yes, sir."
"I only ask because Alexis is such a peculiar name for an Englishman."
"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."
"Yes, sir."
"He says he is suffering from some mysterious complaint, Smedley."
"He told me as much, sir."
"Do you know what that complaint is?"
"Haven't the least idea, sir. But he always seems low like, and he
gets lower, especially during the nights. What might the complaint be,
sir?"
"I wish I could tell you. By the way, haven't you had trained nurses
there?"
"Yes, sir. The other doctor sent two. But the governor dismissed 'em
yesterday. He told me they worried him. Me and the butler does what's
necessary."
"You say he is more depressed during the nights--you mean he shows the
effects of that depression in the mornings?"
"Just so, sir."
"I am going to be confidential, Smedley. Are you aware if your master
has any secret trouble on his mind, any worry that he reveals to no
one?"
"No, sir, I am not."
"Thank you, Smedley. Good night."
"Good night, sir, and thank you."
I had obtained no light from Alexis, and I sought in vain for an
explanation of my patient's condition. Of course, it was plausible
enough to argue that his passion for Rosa was at the root of the evil;
but I remembered Rosa's words to me in the carriage, and I was
disposed to agree with them. To me, as to her, it seemed that, though
Alresca was the sort of man to love deeply, he was not the sort of man
to allow an attachment, however profound or unfortunate, to make a
wreck of his existence. No. If Alresca was dying, he was not dying of
love.