Without losing a moment, they hastened from the room by a door at the opposite extremity; but in the adjoining passage they were met by the nobleman's principal valet.
"Gentlemen," said the domestic, "his lordship desires me to inform you that he has no farther need of your services."
"But, my good fellow," exclaimed the younger physician, "your master is dying—he cannot live another day; and this excitement—this rash proceeding——"
"Is sheer madness!" added the senior medical attendant. "Whither has your master gone?"
The valet whispered a few words to the physicians: they understood him full well, and exchanged looks of mingled disgust and horror.
"The unnatural excitement of this proceeding," at length observed the elder physician, "will kill the Marquis within an hour!"
CHAPTER CCLII.
DEATH OF THE MARQUIS OF HOLMESFORD.
We have described at great length, in a former portion of our narrative, the voluptuous attractions of that department of Holmesford House which may very properly be denominated "the harem."
The reader doubtless remembers the vast and lofty room which we depicted as being furnished in the most luxurious oriental style, and which was embellished with pictures representing licentious scenes from the mythology of the ancients.
To that apartment we must now once more direct attention.