Sir Reginald drove straight from his club to the little cottage beyond Malda Hill. He scarcely expected to find the man whom he had last seen at an inn in Dorsetshire; but, to his surprise, he was conducted immediately to the laboratory, where he discovered Victor Carrington bending over an alembic, which was placed on the top of a small furnace.
The surgeon looked up with a start, and Reginald perceived that he wore the metal mask which he had noticed on a former occasion.
"Who brought you here?" asked Victor, impatiently.
"The servant who admitted me," answered Reginald. "I told her I was your intimate friend, and that I wanted to see you immediately. She therefore brought me here."
"She had no right to do so. However, no matter. When did you return? I scarcely expected to see you in town as soon."
"I scarcely expected to find you hereafter our meeting at Frimley," replied the baronet.
"There was nothing to detain me in the country. I came back some days ago, and have been busy with my old studios in chemistry."
"You still dabble with poisons, I perceive," said Sir Reginald, pointing to the mask which Victor had laid aside on a table near him.
"Every chemist must dabble in poisons, since poison forms an element of all medicines," replied Victor. "And now tell me to what new dilemma of yours do I owe the honour of this visit. You rarely enter this house except when you find yourself desperately in need of my humble services. What is the last misfortune?"
"I have just come from the Phoenix, where I met Caversham, I thought I should be able to get a hundred or so out of him at écarté to-night; but the game is up in that quarter."