d when we have got him there. Say," remarked the doctor,
raising his eyes for the first time, and fixing them in steady inquiry
on Miss Gwilt--"say that he is bold, obstinate, what you please; and
that he holds out--holds out for weeks together, for months together, as
men in similar situations to his have held out before him. What follows?
The risk of keeping him forcibly in concealment--of suppressing him,
if I may so express myself--increases at compound interest, and becomes
Enormous! My house is at this moment virtually ready for patients.
Patients may present themselves in a week's time. Patients may
communicate with Mr. Armadale, or Mr. Armadale may communicate with
patients. A note may be smuggled out of the house, and may reach the
Commissioners in Lunacy. Even in the case of an unlicensed establishment
like mine, those gentlemen--no! those chartered despots in a land of
liberty--have only to apply to the Lord Chancellor for an order, and to
enter (by heavens, to enter My Sanitarium!) and search the house from
top to bottom at a moment's notice! I don't wish to despond; I don't
wish to alarm you; I don't pretend to say that the means we are taking
to secure your own safety are any other than the best means at our
disposal. All I ask you to do is to imagine the Commissioners in
the house--and then to conceive the consequences. The consequences!"
repeated the doctor, getting sternly on his feet, and taking up his hat
as if he meant to leave the room.

"Have you anything more to say?" asked Miss Gwilt.

"Have you any remarks," rejoined the doctor, "to offer on your side?"

He stood, hat in hand, waiting. For a full minute the two looked at each
other in silence.

Miss Gwilt spoke first.

"I think I understand you," she said, suddenly recovering her composure.

"I beg your pardon," returned the doctor, with his hand to his ear.
"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"If you happened to catch another fly this morning," said Miss Gwilt,
with a bitterly sarcastic emphasis on the words, "I might be capable of
shocking you by another 'little joke.'"

The doctor held up both hands, in polite deprecation, and looked as if
he was beginning to recover his good humor again.

"Hard," he murmured, gently, "not to have forgiven me that unlucky
blunder of mine, even yet!"

"What else have you to say? I am waiting for you," said Miss Gwilt. She
turned her chair to the window scornfully, and took up her work a