182 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



driven back to his lodgings and placed in bed : Fitzgerald 

 having preceded him, and prepared his young and timid wife 

 for the calamity which had befallen her ; who, almost frantic 

 with grief and horror, implored to be allowed to see her hus- 

 band, if only for one moment, to be assured he was not killed. 

 " On my word of honour, my dear young lady," replied the 

 kind-hearted Fitzgerald, taking her hand to prevent her leaving 

 the room, "your husband is not killed, although seriously 

 wounded ; and any fresh excitement might be fatal ; pray, be 

 guided by me ; you shall see him directly the doctor will allow 

 you to do so : but let me entreat you, for his sake, to subdue 

 your feelings as much as possible." 



The surgeon, on examining his patient, discovered the 

 ball lodged in his back, just under the skin, and it was, 

 therefore, easily extracted, without much more suffering 

 to Vernon's already tortured frame. Soon after his wound 

 was dressed, he fell into a fitful doze; in which state -he 

 was left by the doctor, after having given all necessary 

 directions to his wife's faithful maid how to treat him until 

 his return. 



For two days Vernon hovered between life and death ; and, 

 on the third day, being quite delirious, Fitzgerald called in one 

 of the most eminent physicians of Paris, who pronounced his 

 case almost hopeless. Still no efforts were relaxed to reduce 

 this fevered state of body ; and being blessed with a good con- 

 stitution, the crisis was at last passed, and he began gradually, 

 though slov/lv.'to amend. Duringr this severe trial to his younsr, 

 affectionate wife, who loved her husband intensely (the only 

 being around whom her young heart had ever been entwined, 

 even from childhood), Fitzgerald, who became deeply interested 

 in her helpless position, was a constant visitor at the house, 

 saying and doing ail in his powder to alleviate the poignanc}^ of 

 her grief, watching, himself, by her husband's bedside during 

 his delirium, day and night, until he was considered out of 

 immediate danger. Her joy at the prospect of his recovery, and 

 gratitude for Fitzgerald's care, were almost unbounded ; and 

 she would sit for hours together by her husband's bedside, with 

 his hand in hers, and pour out her thanks for his rescue from 

 a violent death. Even "Vernon's stern, unfeeling nature gave 

 way before the deep affection shown by this young, artless girl, 

 whom he had seduced from her father's roof, more from the love 

 of her money than any other feeling ; but now, sobered down 

 by the sufferings he had undergone, his heart responded to her 



