"Mr. Hawkehurst is very anxious to hear what I have to say," said Dr.
Jedd; "and I really see no objection to his hearing it."
"If you have no objection, I can have none," Mr. Sheldon answered. "I
must confess, your course of proceeding appears to me altogether
exceptional, and--"
"Yes, Mr. Sheldon; but then, you see, the case is altogether an
exceptional case," said the physician, gravely.
"You think so?"
"Decidedly. The young lady is in extreme danger. Yes, Mr. Sheldon, in
extreme danger. The mistake involved in her removal to-day is a mistake
which I cannot denounce too strongly. If you had wanted to kill your
stepdaughter, you could scarcely have pursued a more likely course for
the attainment of your object. No doubt you were actuated by the most
amiable motives. I can only regret that you should have acted without
competent advice."
"I believed myself to be acting for the best," replied Philip Sheldon, in
a strange mechanical way.
He was trying to estimate the true meaning of the Doctor's address. Was
he merely expressing anger against an error of ignorance or stupidity, or
was there a more fatal significance in his words?
"You overwhelm me," the stockbroker said presently; "you positively
overwhelm me by your view of my daughter's condition. Dr. Doddleson
apprehended no danger. He saw our dear girl on Sunday morning--yesterday
morning," added Mr.
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