“But that will excite him,” objected Dr. Eskell? “it always does excite them.”
“It excites the insane, but not the sane,” said Alfred. “So there is another test; you will observe whether it excites me.” Then, before they could interrupt him, he glided on. “The supposed hallucination is this: I strongly suspect my father, a bankrupt—and therefore dishonest—banker, of having somehow misappropriated a sum of fourteen thousand pounds, which sum is known to have been brought from India by one Captain Dodd, and has disappeared.”
“Stop a minute,” said Mr. Abbott. “Who knows it besides you?”
“The whole family of the Dodds. They will show you his letter from India, announcing his return with the money.”
“Where do they live?”
“Albion Villa, Barkington.”
Mr. Abbott noted the address in his book, and Alfred, mightily cheered and encouraged by this sensible act, went on to describe the various indications, which, insufficient singly, had by their united force driven him to his conclusion. When he described David's appearance and words on his father's lawn at night, Wycherley interrupted him quietly: “Are you quite sure this was not a vision, a phantom of the mind heated by your agitation, and your suspicions?”
Dr. Eskell nodded assent, knowing nothing about the matter.
“Pray, doctor, was I the only person who saw this vision?” inquired Alfred slily.
“I conclude so,” said Wycherley, with an admirable smile.