John
Saltram.

"It is a bad case, sir--a very bad case," he said gravely, after he had
made his careful examination of the patient's condition. "There has been
a violent cold caught, you see, through our poor friend's recklessness in
neglecting to change his damp clothes, and rheumatic fever has set in.
But it appears to me that there are other causes at work--mental
disturbance, and so on. Our friend has been taxing his brain a little too
severely, I gather from Mrs. Pratt's account of him; and these things
will tell, sir; sooner or later they have their effect."

"Then you apprehend danger?"

"Well, yes; I dare not tell you that there is an absence of danger. Mr.
Saltram has a fine constitution, a noble frame; but the strain is a
severe one, especially upon the mind."

"You spoke just now of over-work as a cause for this mental disturbance.
Might it not rather proceed from some secret trouble of mind, some hidden
care?" Gilbert asked anxiously.

"That, sir, is an open question. The mind is unhinged; there is no doubt
of that. There is something more here than the ordinary delirium we look
for in fever cases."

"You have talked of a physician, Mr. Mew; would it not be well to call
one in immediately?"

"I should feel more comfortable if my opinion were supported, sir: not
that I believe there is anything more can be done for our patient than I
have been doing; but the case is a critical one, and I should be glad to
feel myself supported."

"If you will give me the name and address of the gentleman you would like
to call in, I will go for him immediately."

"To-night? Nay, my dear sir, there is no occasion for such haste;
to-morrow morning will do very well."

"To-morrow morning, then; but I will make the appointment to-night, if I
can."

Mr. Mew named a physician high in reputation as a specialist in such
cases as John Saltram's; and Gilbert dashed off at once in a hansom to
obtain the promise of an early visit from this gentleman on the following
morning. He succeeded in his errand; and on returning to the Temple found
the professional nurse installed, and the sick-room brightened and
freshened a little by her handiwork. The patient was asleep, and his
slumber was more quiet than usual.

Gilbert had eaten nothing since breakfast, and it was now nearly nine
o'clock in the evening; but before going out to some neighbouring tavern
to snatch a hasty dinner, he stopped to tell Mrs. Pratt that he should
sl