“Yes,” Sir Felix said impatiently.
“I want you to tell me frankly—when you left, did you think that she was dying?” Gaunt asked eagerly.
“I thought that the case was hopeless. Of course, the best of us are liable to make mistakes, but I am of opinion that it is something in the nature of a miracle that Lady Mildred is alive,” Sir Felix answered gravely.
“Do doctors often make such mistakes?”
Sir Felix flushed at the question, but he quickly saw that Gaunt had no intention of being impertinent.
“I tell you frankly that in my opinion your wife ought to be dead. Upon my soul, I don’t understand why she is alive,” Sir Felix answered irritably, and it would almost appear from his manner that Lady Mildred had committed an offense in living.
“Then your science is at fault,” Gaunt said quietly.
“In this case—yes.”
“Thank you, Sir Felix. One thing more. I owe you an apology for the unceremonious way in which I fetched you here last night.”
“Pray don’t refer to it. Under the circumstances, your conduct was quite excusable. Good-bye for the present. I shall look in again to-night,” Sir Felix said, a trifle pompously.