'No. But doesn't it occur to you a wife with money--might be cheaper?'
the doctor asked with a twinkle in his eye.
Sir George shrugged his shoulders for answer, and turning from the
table--the servant had withdrawn--brushed the crumbs from his breeches,
and sat staring at the lire, his glass in his hand. 'I suppose--it will
come to that presently,' he said, sipping his wine.
'Very soon,' the doctor answered, drily, 'unless I am in error.' Sir George looked at him. 'Come, doctor!' he said. 'You know something!
What is it?' 'I know that it is town talk that you lost seven thousand last season;
and God knows how many thousands in the three seasons before it!' 'Well, one must live,' Sir George answered lightly.
'But not at that rate.' 'In that state of life, doctor, into which God has been pleased--you
know the rest.' 'In that state of life into which the devil!' retorted the doctor with
heat.' If I thought that my boy would ever grow up to do nothing better
than--than--but there, forgive me. I grow warm when I think of the old
trees, and the old pictures, and the old Halls that you fine gentlemen
at White's squander in a night! Why, I know of a little place in
Oxfordshire, which, were it mine by inheritance--as it is my
brother's--I would not stake against a Canons or a Petworth!' 'And Stavordale would stake it against a bootjack--rather than not play
at all!' Sir George answered complacently.
'The more fool he!' snapped the doctor.
'So I think.' 'Eh?' 'So I think,' Sir George answered coolly. 'But one must be in the
fashion, doctor.' 'One must be in the Fleet!' the doctor retorted. 'To be in the fashion
you'll ruin yourself! If you have not done it already,' he continued
with something like a groan. 'There, pass the bottle. I have not
patience with you. One of these fine days you will awake to find
yourself in the Rules.' 'Doctor,' Soane answered, returning to his point, 'you know something.' 'Well--' 'You know why my lord sent for me.' 'And what if I do?' Dr. Addington answered, looking thoughtfully through
his wine. 'To tell the truth, I do, Sir George, I do, and I wish I did
not; for the news I have is not of the best. There is a claimant to that
money come forward. I do not know his name or anything about him; but
his lordship thinks seriously of the matter. I am not sure,' the doctor
continued, with his professional air, and as if his patient in the other
room were alone in his mind, 'that the vexation attending it has not
precipitated this attack. I'm not--at all--sure of it. And Lady Chatham
certainly thinks so.' Sir George was some time silent. Then, with a fair show of indifference,
'And who is the claimant?' he asked.