But he looked less grave when informed that
Mr. Halliday had died of a bilious fever.
"Did Mr. Halliday die in London?" he asked.
"He did."
"I should like--ahem--if it were possible, to see the medical man who
attended him. These fevers rarely prove fatal unless there is some
predisposing cause."
"In this case there was none."
"You speak rather confidently, Mr. Sheldon, as a non-professional man."
"I speak with a certain amount of professional knowledge. I knew Tom
Halliday for many years."
Mr. Sheldon forebore to state that Tom Halliday had died in his house,
and had been attended by him. It is, perhaps, only natural that Philip
Sheldon, the stockbroker of repute, should wish to escape identification
with Philip Sheldon, the unsuccessful dentist of Bloomsbury.
After a little more conversational skirmishing, the confidential
physician of the Prudential Step Assurance Company agreed to consider
that Mr. Halliday's constitution had been in no manner compromised by his
early death, and to pass Charlotte's life. The motives for effecting the
insurance were briefly touched upon in Mr. Greenwood's letter of
introduction, and appeared very proper and feasible in the eyes of the
directors; so, after a delay of a few days, the young lady found herself
accepted, and Mr. Sheldon put away among his more important papers a
large oblong envelope, containing a policy of assurance on his
stepdaughter's life for five thousand pounds.
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