’On the night of the 14th, the feverish symptoms accompanying his lordship’s cold returned.  They were in part perhaps attributable to the annoyance and alarm caused by Ferrari’s mysterious disappearance.  It had been impossible to conceal the circumstance, as his lordship rang repeatedly for the courier; insisting that the man should relieve Lady Montbarry and the Baron by taking their places during the night at his bedside.

’On the 15th (the day on which the old woman first came to do the housework), his lordship complained of sore throat, and of a feeling of oppression on the chest.  On this day, and again on the 16th, her ladyship and the Baron entreated him to see a doctor.  He still refused.  “I don’t want strange faces about me; my cold will run its course, in spite of the doctor,”—­ that was his answer.  On the 17th he was so much worse that it was decided to send for medical help whether he liked it or not.  Baron Rivar, after inquiry at the consul’s, secured the services of Doctor Bruno, well known as an eminent physician in Venice; with the additional recommendation of having resided in England, and having made himself acquainted with English forms of medical practice.

’Thus far our account of his lordship’s illness has been derived from statements made by Lady Montbarry.  The narrative will now be most fitly continued in the language of the doctor’s own report, herewith subjoined.

’"My medical diary informs me that I first saw the English Lord Montbarry, on November 17.  He was suffering from a sharp attack of bronchitis.  Some precious time had been lost, through his obstinate objection to the presence of a medical man at his bedside.  Generally speaking, he appeared to be in a delicate state of health.  His nervous system was out of order—­he was at once timid and contradictory.  When I spoke to him in English, he answered in Italian; and when I tried him in Italian, he went back to English.  It mattered little—­the malady had already made such progress that he could only speak a few words at a time, and those in a whisper.

’"I at once applied the necessary remedies.  Copies of my prescriptions (with translation into English) accompany the present statement, and are left to speak for themselves.

’"For the next three days I was in constant attendance on my patient.  He answered to the remedies employed—­improving slowly, but decidedly.  I could conscientiously assure Lady Montbarry that no danger was to be apprehended thus far.  She was indeed a most devoted wife.  I vainly endeavoured to induce her to accept the services of a competent nurse; she would allow nobody to attend on her husband but herself.  Night and day this estimable woman was at his bedside.  In her brief intervals of repose, her brother watched the sick man in her place.  This brother was, I must say, very good company, in the intervals when we had time for a little talk.  He dabbled in chemistry, down in the horrid under-water vaults of the palace; and he wanted to show me some of his experiments.  I have enough of chemistry in writing prescriptions—­and I declined.  He took it quite good-humouredly.