the bandages so well arranged, and the patient's pulse so strong and
regular, that I left, perfectly satisfied that all was properly
attended to till your arrival. They explained to me that the lady
was your patient, but that being unexpectedly taken ill, she had
ordered the carter to bring the first doctor he found at home."

"Was Mr. Quintin at home?"

"No; he is gone to England to purchase some goods."

"Ah! That accounts for it then."

"Accounts for what? Really you must not catechize me any further.
What is there underneath all these questions?"

I drew my chair closer to him, as I said tragically:

"Mrs. Quintin _never had a child_."

"This rather staggered the good old doctor, who had just come from
the house, where he had examined and weighed the infant. He started
up from his chair, and, drawing back, exclaimed:

"What do you mean? Explain yourself."

I then at length narrated all I knew concerning the Quintin family,
and, as I proceeded with my story, the old man's eyes opened wider
and wider as he exclaimed:

"My God what a diabolical plot"!