Blind Love

Lord Harry found the doctor enthroned on his professional chair,

surprised and delighted to see his distinguished friend. The impetuous

Irishman at once asked for Miss Henley.

"Gone," Mr. Vimpany answered "Gone--where?" the wild lord wanted to know next.

"To London."

"By herself?"

"No; with Mr. Hugh Mountjoy."

Lord Harry seized the doctor by the shoulders, and shook him: "You

don't mean to tell me Mountjoy is going to marry her?"

Mr. Vimpany feared nothing but the loss of money. The weaker and the

older man of the two, he nevertheless followed the young lord's

example, and shook him with right good-will. "Let's see how you like it

in your turn," he said. "As for Mountjoy, I don't know whether he is

married or single--and don't care."

"The devil take your obstinacy! When did they start?"

"The devil take your questions! They started not long since."

"Might I catch them at the station?"

"Yes; if you go at once."

So the desperate doctor carried out his wife's instructions--without

remembering the conditions which had accompanied them.

The way to the station took Lord Harry past the inn. He saw Hugh

Mountjoy through the open house door paying his bill at the bar. In an

instant the carriage was stopped, and the two men (never on friendly

terms) were formally bowing to each other.

"I was told I should find you," Lord Harry said, "with Miss Henley, at

the station."

"Who gave you your information?"

"Vimpany--the doctor."

"He ought to know that the train isn't due at the station for an hour

yet."

"Has the blackguard deceived me? One word more, Mr. Mountjoy. Is Miss

Henley at the inn?"

"No."

"Are you going with her to London?"

"I must leave Miss Henley to answer that."

"Where is she, sir?"

"There is an end to everything, my lord, in the world we live in. You

have reached the end of my readiness to answer questions." The

Englishman and the Irishman looked at each other: the Anglo-Saxon was

impenetrably cool; the Celt was flushed and angry. They might have been

on the brink of a quarrel, but for Lord Harry's native quickness of

perception, and his exercise of it at that moment. When he had called

at Mr. Vimpany's house, and had asked for Iris, the doctor had got rid

of him by means of a lie. After this discovery, at what conclusion

could he arrive? The doctor was certainly keeping Iris out of his way.

Reasoning in this rapid manner, Lord Harry let one offence pass, in his

headlong eagerness to resent another. He instantly left Mountjoy. Again

the carriage rattled back along the street; but it was stopped before

it reached Mr. Vimpany's door.