n," said Ralph; "it is of the greatest importance that we
should know where she is now living. Is there any possibility (we will
pay well for it) of getting some sharp fellow to follow her home from
this place, the next time she comes here?"

Mr. Bernard hesitated a moment, and considered.

"I think I can manage it for you with the porter, after you are gone,"
he said, "provided you leave me free to give any remuneration I may
think necessary."

"Anything in the world, my dear fellow. Have you got pen and ink? I'll
write down my brother's address; you can communicate results to him, as
soon as they occur."

While Mr. Bernard went to the opposite end of the room, in search of
writing materials, Ralph whispered to me--

"If he wrote to _my_ address, Mrs. Ralph might see the letter. She is
the most amiable of her sex; but if written information of a woman's
residence, directed to me, fell into her hands--you understand, Basil!
Besides, it will be easy to let me know, the moment you hear from Jack.
Look up, young one! It's all right--we are sailing with wind and tide."

Here Mr. Bernard brought us pen and ink. While Ralph was writing my
address, his friend said to me:

"I hope you will not suspect me of wishing to intrude on your secrets,
if (assuming your interest in Turner to be the reverse of a friendly
interest) I warn you to look sharply after him when he leaves the
hospital. Either there has been madness in his family, or his brain has
suffered from his external injuries. Legally, he may be quite fit to
be at large; for he will be able to maintain the appearance of perfect
self-possession in all the ordinary affairs of life. But, morally, I am
convinced that he is a dangerous monomaniac; his mania being connected
with some fixed idea which evidently never leaves him day or night. I
would lay a heavy wager that he dies in a prison or a madhouse."

"And I'll lay another wager, if he's mad enough to annoy us, that we are
the people to shut him up," said Ralph. "There is the address. And now,
we needn't waste your time any longer. I have taken a little place at
Brompton, Jack,--you and Basil must come and dine with me, as soon as
the carpets are down."

We left the room. As we crossed the hall, a gentleman came forward, and
spoke to Mr. Bernard.

"That man's fever in the Victoria Ward has declared itself at last," he
said. "This morning the new symptoms have appeared."

"And what do they indicate?"

"Typhus