Here Gilbert waited for about ten minutes, at the end of which time the
man returned, to request that he would be so kind as to go to Sir David's
study. His master was something of an invalid, the man told Gilbert.

They went through the billiard-room to a very snug little apartment, with
dark-panelled walls and one large window opening upon a rose-garden on
the southern side of the house. There was a ponderous carved-oak bookcase
on one side of the room; on all the others the paraphernalia of
sporting--gunnery and fishing-tackle, small-swords, whips, and
boxing-gloves--artistically arranged against the panelling; and over the
mantelpiece an elaborate collection of meerschaum pipes. Through a
half-open door Gilbert caught a glimpse of a comfortable bedchamber
leading out of this room.

Sir David was sitting on a low easy-chair near the window, with one leg
supported on a luxuriously-cushioned rest, invented for the relief of
gouty subjects. Although not yet forty, the baronet was a chronic
sufferer from this complaint.

"My dear Mr. Fenton, how good of you to come to me!" he exclaimed,
shaking hands very cordially with Gilbert. "Here I am, laid by the heels
in this dreary old place, and quite alone. You can't imagine what a treat
it is to see a friendly intelligent face from the outer world."

"The purpose of my visit is such a purely selfish one, that I am really
ashamed to receive such a kindly greeting, Sir David. If I had known you
were here and an invalid, I should have gladly come to see you; but I
didn't know it. I have been at Lidford on a matter of business for the
last two days; and I came here on the hazard of finding you, and with a
faint hope that you might be able to give me some help in an affair