"
"I am going to tell you nothing of the kind," answered Dr. Westbrook.
"I can find no symptoms of disease. You have a very fair lease of life,
Mr. Dale, and may enjoy a green old age, if other people would allow
you to enjoy it."
"How do you mean?"
"I mean that if I can trust my own judgment in a matter which is
sometimes almost beyond the reach of science, the symptoms from which
you suffer are those of slow poisoning."
"Slow poisoning!" replied Douglas, in almost inaudible accents. "It is
impossible!" he exclaimed, after a pause, during which the physician
waited quietly until his patient should have in some manner recovered
his calmness of mind. "It is quite impossible. I have every confidence
in your skill, your science; but in this instance, Dr. Westbrook, I
feel assured that you are mistaken."
"I would gladly think so, Mr. Dale," replied the doctor, gravely; "but
I cannot. I have given my best thought to your case. I can only form
one conclusion--namely, that you are labouring under the effects of
poison."
"Do you know what the poison is?"
"I do not; but I do know that it must have been administered with a
caution that is almost diabolical in its ingenuity--so slowly, by such
imperceptible degrees, that you have scarcely been aware of the change
which it has worked in your system. It was a most providential
circumstance that you came to me when you did, as I have been able to
discover the treachery to which you are subject while there is yet
ample time for you to act against it.
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