ornell had anticipated from the message was
a peremptory order from her husband to Reynard to hold aloof a few months
longer. What the Squire really did was to declare that he would go
himself and confront Reynard at Bristol, and have it out with him there
by word of mouth.

'But, master,' said Tupcombe, 'you can't. You cannot get out of bed.'

'You leave the room, Tupcombe, and don't say "can't" before me! Have
Jerry saddled in an hour.'

The long-tried Tupcombe thought his employer demented, so utterly
helpless was his appearance just then, and he went out reluctantly. No
sooner was he gone than the Squire, with great difficulty, stretched
himself over to a cabinet by the bedside, unlocked it, and took out a
small bottle. It contained a gout specific, against whose use he had
been repeatedly warned by his regular physician, but whose warning he now
cast to the winds.

He took a double dose, and waited half an hour. It seemed to produce no
effect. He then poured out a treble dose, swallowed it, leant back upon
his pillow, and waited. The miracle he anticipated had been worked at
last. It seemed as though the second draught had not only operated with
its own strength, but had kindled into power the latent forces of the
first. He put away the bottle, and rang up Tupcombe.

Less than an hour later one of the housemaids, who of course was quite
aware that the Squire's illness was serious, was surprised to hear a bold
and decided step descending the stairs from the direction of Mr.
Dornell's room, accompanied by the humming of a tune. She knew that the
doctor had not paid a visit that morning, and that it was too heavy to be
the valet or any other man-servant. Looking up, she saw Squire Dornell
fully dressed, descending toward her in his drab caped riding-coat and
boots, with the swinging easy movement of his prime. Her face expressed
her amazement.

'What the devil beest looking at?' said the Squire. 'Did you never see a
man walk out of his house before, wench?'

Resuming his humming--which was of a defiant sort--he proceeded to the
library, rang the bell, asked if the horses were ready, and directed them
to be brought round. Ten minutes later he rode away in the direction of
Bristol, Tupcombe behind him, trembling at what these movements might
portend.

They rode on through the pleasant woodlands and the monotonous straight
lanes at an equal pace. The distance traversed might have been about
fift