I feel no
pain--in fact, nothing but a little faintness. Your damned medicines,
I haven't a doubt."
"You are in the greatest danger, my lord. It is all but too late even
now."
"To-morrow, then, if it must be. To-day I could not endure to have my
hair cut, positively; and as to having my leg off--pooh! the thing's
preposterous."
He turned white and shuddered, for all the nonchalance of his speech.
When to-morrow came there was not a surgeon in the land who would have
taken his leg off. He looked in their faces, and seemed for the first
time convinced of the necessity of the measure.
"You may do as you please," he said: "I am ready."
"Not to-day, my lord," replied the doctor--"your lordship is not equal
to it to-day."
"I understand," said the marquis, and paled frightfully and turned his
head aside.
When Mrs. Courthope suggested that Lady Florimel should be sent for,
he flew into a frightful rage, and spoke as it is to be hoped he had
never spoken to a woman before. She took it with perfect gentleness,
but could not repress a tear. The marquis saw it, and his heart was
touched. "You mustn't mind a dying man's temper," he said.
"It's not for myself, my lord," she answered.
"I know: you think I'm not fit to die; and, damn it! you are right.
Never one was less fit for heaven or less willing to go to hell."
"Wouldn't you like to see a clergyman, my lord?" she suggested,
sobbing.
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