“Can’t you remember the town?”
“Not a ghost of an idea. Some little village in the Midlands probably, where Hamlet would be appreciated. I remember, by the way, the bill—pity I didn’t keep it—mentioned that this enterprising company was going to give a performance in Boulogne, of all places. It occurred to me it would be a source of great consolation to our fellow-countrymen in that dismal colony to witness Jack Rogers in the ghost for one night only.”
“That would be eighteen or nineteen years ago,” said Roger, with a sigh at the hopelessness of his quest. “You have heard nothing since?”
“Not a syllable. Have some more sherry?”
Roger reached his hotel that night in more than mental distress. The fatigue and anxiety of the last few days had had their inevitable result on his health, and though the penalty had been postponed, it was coming to account at last.
When his worthy guardian returned on the following day, he was much shocked to find his ward really ill. He did his best. He tried to induce the patient to make an effort to “shake off” his ailments. He sat up late in his room at night, talking and attempting to amuse him. He even purchased a few amateur specifics; and finally, when the boy was as ill as ill could be, called in a pettifogging practitioner, who might be trusted to bungle the case.
“Regular bad case,” said that learned gentleman, after the third or fourth visit. “May last a week with care.”
The good captain naturally grew concerned. Matters seemed to be progressing beyond even his expectations. The practitioner’s verdict speedily got wind in the hotel. Visitors came anxiously to inquire after the young gentleman’s condition, and urged a second opinion. And one or two were inconsiderate enough to suggest that the patient was not having fair play.
Under these distressing circumstances, Captain Oliphant decided to write a line to Dr Brandram.
“Roger has unfortunately taken a chill. Will you kindly forward me the prescription which benefited him so much last summer, as I am naturally anxious to omit no precaution for the dear fellow’s good. He is being well cared for, and will, I trust, be all right in a day or two.”