"We will send for the doctor," said Donal. "A very clever young
fellow has come to the town since you left: perhaps he can help you.
I will do what I can to make you give your life fair play."
"Come, come! none of that damned rubbish! My life is of no end of
value to me! Besides, it's too late. If I were young now, with a
constitution like yours, and the world before me, there might be
some good in a paring or two of self-denial; but you wouldn't stab
your murderer for fear of the clasp knife closing on your hand! you
would not fire your pistol at him for fear of its bursting and
blowing your brains out!"
"I have no desire to keep you alive, my lord; but I would give my
life to let you get some of the good of this world before you pass
to the next. To lengthen your life infinitely, I would not give you
a single drop of any one of those cursed drugs!"
He rang the bell again.
"You're a friendly fellow!" grunted his lordship, and went back to
his bed to ponder how to gain the solace of his passion.
Mrs. Brookes came.
"Will you please send to Mr. Avory, the new surgeon," said Donal,
"and ask him, in my name, to come to the castle."
The earl was so ill, however, as to be doubtful, much as he desired
them, whether, while rendering him for the moment less sensible to
them, any of his drugs would do no other than increase his
sufferings.
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