"I must go to the Grange," replied Blake.
Beaumont smiled and whistled the air of "Love's Young Dream," for he had heard rumours in the village which led him to believe that Blake was in love with the Squire's beautiful cousin.
Reginald understood him, and was about to make some angry remark, when Nestley came up to them and put an end to the conversation.
"Well, doctor," said Beaumont lightly, "and how is your patient?"
Nestley's face wore a frown as he recognised Beaumont, but he evidently determined not to give his enemy the pleasure of seeing his annoyance, so, smoothing his features to a bland smile, he replied in the same conversational manner:
"Better--much better--he'll be all right soon--less excitable--but the body is worn out."
"And the brain?" asked the artist.
"Oh, that's all right--he's got a wonderful brain."
"Slightly cracked," interposed Blake, nodding to Nestley.
"Just slightly," replied Nestley, coolly. "But his madness has a good deal of method in it. He's got queer ideas about the re-incarnation of the soul--but we've all queer ideas more or less."