That afternoon I took comfortable rooms for my patient in a street adjoining that in which I lived. I also engaged an excellent surgical nurse, in whom I could place perfect confidence. There was then nothing more to do except to await the arrival of the Mainwarings.
Mrs. Mainwaring and her father-in-law arrived at the rooms which I had taken for them, late that evening. They sent me a message at once to say they would be glad to see me, and I hurried to pay them a visit.
Mrs. Mainwaring looked pale--her face was haggard--her eyes disturbed and restless. She came impulsively to meet me, and clasped one of my hands in both of hers.
[Illustration: "SHE CLASPED ONE OF MY HANDS IN BOTH OF HERS."]
"Edward has told me what you propose to do," she exclaimed, "and I am willing--I am abundantly willing that he should run this great risk."
Her words almost surprised me. I looked from her to her father-in-law, who now held out his hand.
"I have often heard of you, Dr. Halifax," he said, with a courteous, old-fashioned gesture. "I think you know some special friends of mine. I may say that I place absolute confidence in your skill, and am willing to put my son's life in your hands."
I looked attentively from one face to the other.
"I am glad you both give your consent," I replied. "I should not perform the operation, which I trust will relieve Mr. Mainwaring, without your mutual sanction. I must tell you plainly, however, that although I am willing to do it, it is accompanied by grave risk, and I do not believe another doctor in London would attempt it."
"You mean that Edward may die?" said the wife in a low voice.
"But I do not think he will," she said, a wonderful light leaping into her face. "I am a woman--a woman does not always reason, but she strongly believes in instincts--my instinct tells me that you will save my husband, and in short give him back to me as he was before. At the worst, even at the worst----" here she turned ghastly pale, "he would _know_ me in another world. I could endure to be parted with him on those conditions. I cannot--I cannot endure the present state of things."
Her composure suddenly gave way, she sobbed aloud.
"There is nothing more to be said," I remarked, after a brief pause. "I have all your consents, and have made full arrangements to perform the operation to-morrow morning. A clever surgeon, whom I know well, will assist me, and an excellent trained nurse will arrive at an early hour to get the patient ready for our visit. By the way, where is your husband, Mrs. Mainwaring?"