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more than a match； for Nugent Dubourg。
〃I am afraid I behaved in a very odd manner； when we met in the village？〃
he said。 〃The fact is； I am not at all well。 I have been in a strange
feverish state lately。 I don't think the air of this place suits me。〃
There he stopped； keeping his eyes steadily fixed on mine； trying to read
my mind in my face。
〃I am not surprised to hear you say that；〃 I answered。 〃I have noticed
that you have not been looking well lately。〃
My tone and manner （otherwise perfectly composed） expressed polite
sympathyand nothing more。 I saw I puzzled him。 He tried again。
〃I hope I didn't say or do anything rude？〃 he went on。
〃Oh； no！〃
〃I was excitedpainfully excited。 You are too kind to admit it； I am
sure I owe you my apologies？〃
〃No； indeed！ you were certainly excited； as you say。 But we are all in
the same state to…day。 The occasion； Mr。 Nugent； is your sufficient
apology。〃
Not the slightest sign in my face of any sort of suspicion of him
rewarded the close and continued scrutiny with which he regarded me。 I
saw in his perplexed expression； the certain assurance that I was beating
him at his own weapons。 He made a last effort to entrap me into revealing
that I suspected his secrethe attempted； by irritating my quick temper；
to take me by surprise。
〃You are no doubt astonished at seeing me here；〃 he resumed。 〃I have not
forgotten that I promised to remain at Browndown instead of coming to the
rectory。 Don't be angry with me： I am under medical orders which forbid
me to keep my promise。〃
〃I don't understand you；〃 I said just as coolly as ever。
〃I will explain myself；〃 he rejoined。 〃You remember that we long since
took Grosse into our confidence； on the subject of Oscar's position
towards Lucilla？〃
〃I am not likely to have forgotten it；〃 I answered； 〃considering that it
was I who first warned your brother that Herr Grosse might do terrible
mischief by innocently letting out the truth。〃
〃Do you recollect how Grosse took the warning when we gave it to him？〃
〃Perfectly。 He promised to be careful。 But； at the same time； he gruffly
forbade us to involve him in any more of our family troubles。 He said he
was determined to preserve his professional freedom of action； without
being hampered by domestic difficulties which might concern _us；_ but
which did not concern _him。_ Is my memory accurate enough to satisfy
you？〃
〃Your memory is wonderful。 You will now understand me when I tell you
that Grosse asserts his professional freedom of action on this occasion。
I had it from his own lips on our way here。 He considers it very
important that Lucilla should not be frightened at the moment when she
tries her sight。 Oscar's face is sure to startle her； if it is the first
face she sees。 Grosse has accordingly requested me to be present （as the
only other young man in the room）； and to place myself so that I shall be
the first person who attracts her notice。 Ask him yourself； Madame
Pratolungo； if you don't believe me。〃
〃Of course I believe you！〃 I answered。 〃It is useless to dispute the
surgeon's orders at such a time as this。〃
With that； I left him； showing just as much annoyance as an unsuspecting
woman； in my position； might have naturally betrayedand no more。
Knowing； as I did； what was going on under the surface； I understood only
too plainly what had happened。 Nugent had caught at the opportunity which
the surgeon had innocently offered to him； as a means of misleading
Lucilla at the moment； and （possibly） of taking some base advantage of
her afterwards。 I trembled inwardly with rage and fear； as I turned my
back on him。 Our one chance was to make sure of his absence； at the
critical momentand； cudgel my brains as I might； how to reach that end
successfully was more than I could see。
When I returned to the other persons in the room； Oscar and Lucilla were
still occupying the same positions。 Mr。 Finch had presented himself （at
full length） to Herr Grosse。 And Jicks was established on a stool in a
corner： devouring a rampant horse； carved in bilious…yellow German
gingerbread； with a voracious relish wonderful and terrible to see。
〃Ah； my goot Madame Pratolungo！〃 said Herr Grosse； stopping on his way to
Lucilla to shake hands with me。 〃Have you made anodder lofely Mayonnaise？
I have come on purpose with an empty…stomachs； and a wolf's…appetite in
fine order。 Look at that little Imps；〃 he went on； pointing to Jicks。
〃Ach Gott！ I believe I am in lofe with her。 I have sent all the ways to
Germany for gingerbreads for Jick。 Aha； you Jick！ does it stick in your
tooths？ Is it nice…clammy…sweet？〃 He glared benevolently at the child
through his spectacles； and tucked my hand sentimentally into the breast
of his waistcoat。 〃Promise me a child like adorable Jick；〃 he said
solemnly； 〃I will marry the first wife you bring menice womans； nasty
womans； I don't care which。 Soh！ there is my domestic sentiments laid
bare before you。 Enough of that。 Now for my pretty…Feench！
Come…begin…begin！〃
He crossed the room to Lucilla； and called to Nugent to follow him。
〃Open the shutters；〃 he said。 〃Light…light…light； and plenty of him； for
my lofely Feench！〃
Nugent opened the shutters； beginning with the lower window； and ending
with the window at which Lucilla was sitting。 Acting on this plan； he had
only to wait where he was； to place himself close by herto be the first
object she saw。 He did it。 The villain did it。 I stepped forward；
determined to interfereand stopped； not knowing what to say or do。 I
could have beaten my own stupid brains out against the wall。 There stood
Nugent right before her； as the surgeon turned his patient towards the
window。 And not the ghost of an idea came to me！
The German stretched out his hairy hands； and took hold of the knot of
the bandage to undo it。
Lucilla trembled from head to foot。
Herr Grosse hesitatedlooked at herlet go of the bandage…and lifting
one of her hands； laid his fingers on her pulse。
In the moment of silence that followed； I had one of my inspirations。 The
missing idea turned up in my brains at last。
〃Soh！〃 cried Grosse； dropping her hand with a sudden outbreak of
annoyance and surprise。 Who has been frightening my pretty Feench？ Why
these cold trembles？ these sinking pulses？ Some of you tell mewhat does
it mean？〃
Here was my opportunity！ I tried my idea on the spot。
〃It means；〃 I said； 〃that there are too many people in this room。 We
confuse her； and frighten her。 Take her into her bedroom； Herr Grosse；
and only let the rest of us in； when you think rightone at a time。〃
Our excellent surgeon instantly seized on my idea； and made it his own。
〃You are a phenix among womens；〃 he said； paternally patting me on the
shoulder。 〃Which is most perfectest； your advice or your Mayonnaise； I am
at a loss to know。〃 He turned to Lucilla； and raised her gently from her
chair。 〃Come into your own rooms with me； my poor little Feench。 I shall
see if I dare take off your bandages to…day。〃
Lucilla clasped her hands entreatingly。
〃You promised！〃 she said。 〃Oh； Herr Grosse； you promised to let me use my
eyes to…day！〃
〃Answer me this！〃 retorte