k next morning a light carriage and pair came round to
the Hall gate, and a large basket, a portmanteau, and a bag were placed
on the roof under care of Moss; smaller packages were put inside; and
Lady Bassett and her maid got in, both dressed in black.

They reached Bellevue House at half-past two. The lodge-gate was open,
to Lady Bassett's surprise, and they drove through some pleasant
grounds to a large white house.

The place at first sight had no distinctive character: great ingenuity
had been used to secure the inmates without seeming to incarcerate
them. There were no bars to the lower front windows, and the side
windows, with their defenses, were shrouded by shrubs. The sentinels
were out of sight, or employed on some occupation or other, but within
call. Some patients were playing at cricket; some ladies looking on;
others strolling on the gravel with a nurse, dressed very much like
themselves, who did not obtrude her functions unnecessarily. All was
apparent indifference, and Argus-eyed vigilance. So much for the
surface.

Of course, even at this moment, some of the locked rooms had violent
and miserable inmates.

The hall door opened as the carriage drew up; a respectable servant
came forward.

Lady Bassett handed him her card, and said, "I am come to see my
husband, sir."

The man never moved a muscle, but said, "You must wait, if you please,
till I take your card in."

He soon returned, and said, "Dr. Suaby is not here, but the gentleman
in charge will see you."

Lady Bassett got out, and, beckoning Mary Wells, followed the servant
into a curious room, half library, half chemist's shop; they called it
"the laboratory."

Here she found a tall man leaning on a dirty mantelpiece, who received
her stiffly. He had a pale mustache, very thin lips, and altogether a
severe manner. His head bald, rather prematurely, and whiskers
abundant.

Lady Bassett looked him all over with one glance of her woman's eye,
and saw she had a hard and vain man to deal with.

"Are you the gentleman to whom this house belongs?" she faltered.

"No, madam; I am in charge during Dr. Suaby's absence."

"That comes to the same thing. Sir, I am come to see my dear husband."

"Have you an order?"

"An order, sir? I am his wife."

Mr. Salter shrugged his shoulders a little, and said, "I have no
authority to let any visitor see a patient without an order from the
person by whose authority he is placed here, or else an orde