red, "Mr. Rothsay requested me to tell him all that I knew
about your illness. I complied, of course; mentioning that I had lately
adopted a new method of treatment, and that I had every reason to feel
confident of the results. He was so interested in the symptoms of your
illness, and in the remedies being tried, that he took notes in his
pocketbook of what I had said. When he paid me that compliment, I
thought it possible that I might be speaking to a colleague."

I was pleased to hear of my friend's anxiety for my recovery. If I had
been in better health, I might have asked myself what reason he could
have had for making those entries in his pocketbook.

Three days later, another proof reached me of Rothsay's anxiety for my
welfare.

The owner of the yacht wrote to beg that I would send him a report of my
health, addressed to a port on the south coast of England, to which they
were then bound. "If we don't hear good news," he added, "I have reason
to fear that Rothsay will overthrow our plans for the recovery of his
peace of mind by leaving the vessel, and making his own inquiries at
your bedside."

With no small difficulty I roused myself sufficiently to write a few
words with my own hand. They were words that lied--for my poor friend's
sake. In a postscript, I begged my correspondent to let me hear if the
effect produced on Rothsay had answered to our hopes and expectations.

SIXTH EPOCH.

THE weary days followed each other--and time failed to justify the
doctor's confidence in his new remedies. I grew weaker and weaker.

My uncle came to see me. He was so alarmed that he insisted on a
consultation being held with his own physician. Another great authority
was called in, at the same time, by the urgent request of my own medical
man. These distinguished persons held more than one privy council,
before they would consent to give a positive opinion. It was an evasive
opinion (encumbered with hard words of Greek and Roman origin) when it
was at last pronounced. I waited until they had taken their leave, and
then appealed to my own doctor. "What do these men really think?" I
asked. "Shall I live, or die?"

The doctor answered for himself as well as for his illustrious
colleagues. "We have great faith in the new prescriptions," he said.

I understood what that meant. They were afraid to tell me the truth. I
insisted on the truth.

"How long shall I live?" I said. "Till the end of the year?"

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