You
have merely come here in response to Dr. Burnham, and he came
because Jane lost her head in the excitement and forgot that Dr.
Scott is now our physician."
"But Dr. Scott could not have been found in time, madame,"
interposed Dr. Burnham with evident triumph.
She ignored the remark and continued to hold the door open.
"Now leave us," she implored, "you, Dr. Burnham, you, Mr. Prescott,
you, Professor Kennedy, and your friend Mr. Jameson, whoever you
may be."
She was now cold and calm. In the bewildering change of events we
had forgotten the wan figure on the bed still gasping for the breath
of life. I could not help wondering at the woman's apparent lack
of gratitude, and a thought flashed over my mind. Had the affair
come to a contest between various parties fighting by fair means or
foul for the old man's money - Scott and Mrs. Martin perhaps -=20
against Prescott and Dr. Burnham? No one moved. We seemed to be
waiting on Kennedy. Prescott and Mrs. Martin were now glaring at
each other implacably.
The old man moved restlessly on the bed, and over my shoulder I
could hear him gasp faintly, "Where's Grace? Send for Grace."
Mrs. Martin paid no attention, seemed not to hear, but stood facing
us imperiously as if waiting for us to obey her orders and leave
the house.
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