"Don't be afraid to speak out," she said gently. "I must know everything if I am to be of help to him. Was it at that time that Mr. Chesney began to--to take so much wine and--spirits?"
There was a dull, brownish red in the man's face. He suffered at having to put his unfortunate master's weakness into words--at hearing his master's wife speak with such sad plainness.
"Why was that, Gaynor? Do all--all people who use such drugs--do that--too?"
"I do not know, madam. But there always comes a time of great weakness with Mr. Chesney after the morphine. It is then it happens. And afterwards there is great nervousness. Another dose of morphia is the only thing that will quiet it. So it goes, madam. First one--then the other. It is very terrible to watch. One feels helpless. I have tried hard to prevent it--with all my might, I should say, madam."
"I am sure you have, Gaynor," she said warmly. She sat for some moments thinking, her eyes on her wedding ring which she turned round and round. Then she asked what instructions Dr. Carfew had given.
"He ordered small doses, madam. I am to give them at longer intervals each time--lessening the dose each time also. Sometimes I must substitute strychnine. He also ordered malted milk, and a nourishing diet--things easy to digest and fattening. He said that Mr. Chesney weighed less than he should by at least two stone. And there must be no spirit of any land given."
"And the other--Doctor Hopkins--what did he say?"
Something that was almost a smile quivered under Gaynor's light eyelashes. His voice was very demure.
"He gave me several prescriptions for different occasions, madam."
"Did he leave any instructions about the quantity of--morphine?" She paled as she uttered the word, but she felt that she must use it. It would have to be used very often between this man and herself if they were to save Cecil. "About the amount that you were to give Mr. Chesney!"
Gaynor looked down as though ashamed for the little doctor.
"He said that nothing could be done just at present, madam. That I must keep the master comfortable. That he must be reasoned with when he was better, and spoken to very plain for his own good."
"When do you think that Mr. Chesney will be strong enough for me to talk with him? I mean to talk really with him--to--to let him know that--I know!"