The Doctor of Pimlico | Page 9

"Because----" and he hesitated, still gazing upon her with those
strangely sinister eyes of his. "Well, Miss Enid, because a complete
change will be beneficial to you in more ways than one," he replied
with an air of mystery.
"I don't understand you," she declared.
"Probably not," he laughed, with that cynical air which so irritated her.
She hated herself for coming to that detestable house of grim silence;
yet his word to her was a command which she felt impelled by some
strange force to fulfil with child-like obedience. "But I assure you I am
advising you for your own benefit, my dear young lady."
"In what way?"
"Shall I speak plainly?" asked the man in whose power she was. "Will
you forgive me if I so far intrude myself upon your private affairs as to
give you a few words of advice?"
"Thank you, Dr. Weirmarsh, but I cannot see that my private affairs are
any concern of yours," she replied with some hauteur. How often had
she endeavoured in vain to break those invisible shackles?
"I am a very sincere friend of your stepfather, and I hope a sincere
friend of yours also," he said with perfect coolness. "It is because of
this I presume to advise you--but, of course----" And he hesitated,
without concluding his sentence. His eyes were again fixed upon her as
though gauging accurately the extent of his influence upon her.

"And what do you advise, pray?" she asked, "It seems that you have
called me to you to-night in order to intrude upon my private affairs,"
she added, with her eyes flashing resentment.
"Well--yes, Miss Enid," he answered, his manner changing slightly.
"The fact is, I wish to warn you against what must inevitably bring
disaster both upon yourself and your family."
"Disaster?" she echoed. "I don't follow you."
"Then let me speak a little more plainly," he replied, his strange,
close-set eyes staring into hers until she quivered beneath his cold, hard
gaze. "You have recently become acquainted with Walter Fetherston.
You met him at Biarritz six months ago, and on Monday last he
lunched with you up at Monifieth. After luncheon you met him in the
garden of the hotel, and----"
"How do you know all this?" she gasped, startled, yet fascinated by his
gaze.
"My dear young lady," he laughed, "it is my business to know certain
things--that is one of them."
She held her breath for a moment.
"And pray how does that concern you? What interest have you in my
acquaintances?"
"A very keen one," was the prompt reply. "That man is dangerous to
you--and to your family. The reason why I have asked you here
to-night is to tell you that you must never meet him again. If you value
your life, and that of your mother and her husband, avoid him as you
would some venomous reptile. He is your most deadly enemy."
The girl was silent for a moment. Her great, dark eyes were fixed upon
the threadbare carpet. What he told her was disconcerting, yet, knowing
instinctively, as she did, how passionately Walter loved her, she could
not bring herself to believe that he was really her enemy.

"No, Dr. Weirmarsh," she replied, raising her eyes again to his, "you
are quite mistaken. I know Walter Fetherston better than you. Your
allegation is false. You have told me this because--because you have
some motive in parting us."
"Yes," he said frankly, "I have--a strong motive."
"You do not conceal it?"
"No," he answered. "Were I a younger man you might, perhaps, accuse
me of scheming to wriggle myself into your good graces, Miss Enid.
But I am getting old, and, moreover, I'm a confirmed bachelor,
therefore you cannot, I think, accuse me of such ulterior motives. No, I
only point out this peril for your family's sake--and your own."
"Is Mr. Fetherston such an evil genius, then?" she asked. "The world
knows him as a writer of strictly moral, if exciting, books."
"The books are one thing--the man himself another. Some men reflect
their own souls in their works, others write but canting hypocrisy. It is
so with Walter Fetherston--the man who has a dual personality and
whose private life will not bear the light of publicity."
"You wish to prejudice me against him, eh?" she said in a hard tone.
"I merely wish to advise you for your good, my dear young lady," he
said. "It is not for me, your medical man, to presume to dictate to you, I
know. But the general is my dear friend, therefore I feel it my duty to
reveal to you the bitter truth."
Thoughts of Walter Fetherston, the man in whose eyes had shone the
light of true honesty when he spoke, arose within her. She