"Come, Williams," said the doctor at last, as they emerged into a
well-kept road leading up to a handsome house which stood on a rising
ground before them, surrounded by its broad acres of well-cultivated
land. "You must brighten up now, for I am going to take you to see an
old friend of mine. Why, here he is!" and they were greeted by a
jovial shout as a portly, pleasant-faced man caught them up.
"Hello! doctor, glad to see you; you havent honoured us with a visit
for some time."
"I have been so busy lately, and even now you see I have brought a
patient with me. I thought a little change would do him good."
"Of course, of course! the more the merrier. I'll ride on and prepare
Nellie for your coming," and off he galloped on his well-kept, spirited
horse, looking as he felt, perfectly at home in the saddle.
"Nellie," a sweet-looking lady with a brunette's face, which retained
much of the beauty of youth, although she had now attained to middle
age, was as hearty as her husband in her greeting.
"So glad to see you--you are just in time for dinner; for a wonder
Lewis is punctual today."
She shook hands with Cardo, and placed a chair for him at the
well-filled table. He took his seat with a pleasant smile, but soon
fell into his usual dreamy state, which the company at a sign from Dr.
Belton took no notice of.
"I do believe, Williams," said Dr. Belton at last, "that I have never
introduced you to my friends. These are Mr. and Mrs. Wynne."
Cardo looked up almost eagerly.
"Cardo Wynne?" he said.
"No," said the doctor; "Mr. Lewis Wynne. But do you know that name?"
"Yes, Cardo Wynne."
"Is that your name?" asked the shrewd doctor.
"Yes, Cardo Wynne."
"Merciful goodness!" said the host, in excited astonishment, which his
wife seemed in a great measure to share, "that is the name of my
brother's son, Caradoc, commonly called Cardo Wynne; that is what Dr.
Hughes told us, Nellie, didn't he?"
"Yes, I have often thought of the name and wondered what he was like.
How sad," she said, "and such a handsome fellow, too."
"Caradoc!" Dr. Belton called suddenly.
"Yes," said Cardo, with one of his pleasant smiles, "Cardo Wynne,
Brynderyn."
"Good heavens!" said Mr. Wynne, "there can be no doubt about it; that
is my brother's home."
And both he and Dr. Belton, aided by Mrs. Wynne's gentle suggestions,
made every endeavour to elicit further information from Cardo, but in
vain. He had fallen again into an apparently unconscious and deadened
stupor.
"Sunstroke, did you say? are you sure of that, Belton?"
"Not at all," said the doctor; "in fact, I have had serious doubts of
it lately, and to-day's experience decides me. I will have a thorough
examination of his skull."