When Harry had been in the house about half an hour, and had already
eaten his lunch, somewhat sulkily, a message came to him from Miss
Scarborough requiring his presence. He went to her, and was told by her
that Mr. Scarborough would now see him. He was aware that Mr.
Scarborough never saw Septimus Jones, and that there was something
peculiar in the sending of this message to him. Why should the man who
was supposed to have but a few weeks to live be so anxious to see one
who was comparatively a stranger to him? "I am so glad you have come in
before dinner, Mr. Annesley, because my brother is so anxious to see
you, and I am afraid you'll go too early in the morning." Then he
followed her, and again found Mr. Scarborough on a couch in the same
room to which he had been first introduced.

"I've had a sharp bout of it since I saw you before," said the sick man.

"So we heard, sir."

"There is no saying how many or rather how few bouts of this kind it
will take to polish me off. But I think I am entitled to some little
respite now. The apothecary from Tretton was here this morning, and I
believe has done me just as much good as Sir William Brodrick. His
charge will be ten shillings, while Sir William demanded three hundred
pounds. But it would be mean to go out with no one but the Tretton
apothecary to look after one."

"I suppose Sir William's knowledge has been of some service."

"His dexterity with his knife has been of more. So you and Augustus have
been quarrelling about Mountjoy?"