"Nothing is impossible," said the doctor, "very interesting case; keep
up the strength, nurse."
Everything was done that was possible for poor Cardo; the nurses were
unremitting in their care and attention, but nothing roused him from
his trance-like stupor.
During the course of the day, the news of the finding of an unknown man
on the quay reached the Wolfington Hotel, where the waiter, with
another knowing wink and shake of the head, said, "On the razzle-dazzle
again, I expect. Must be the same man." And he proceeded upstairs to
examine the luggage, from which Cardo had removed the labels intending
to redirect them to his uncles house. There was no letter or paper
found to indicate the name of the owner, even the initials C. W. gave
no clue.
"What was the man's name?" said the waiter to Mr. Simkins, who happened
to call the following morning.
"Don't know. Charles Williams he is called at the hospital. There was
no clue to his identity, but just the letters C. W. on his linen."
"Then, no doubt, his luggage is here," said the waiter. "All his
things are marked C. W., and, from your description, it must be the
same man."
"Well, my brother will speak to Dr. Belton about it, and he will
arrange to have it taken care of; he already has his money and his
watch."
And so Cardo Wynne slipped out of his place in the outside world and
was soon forgotten by all except those connected with the hospital.
In three weeks the fever had run its course, and, to the astonishment
of the nurses and doctors, Cardo still lived.
"Extraordinary vitality! Has he never spoken a word?"
"Never a sound or a word until he began moaning to-day."
"Good sign, this moaning. Mind, keep up his strength."
And gradually, under the constant care of Doctor Belton, who was much
interested in the case, Cardo, or Charles Williams as he was now
called, recovered strength of body; and, to a slight extent,
restoration to consciousness; for though he lay inert and motionless,
his lips moved incessantly in a low muttering or whispering, in which
the nurses in vain endeavoured to find a clue to the mystery of his
illness.