L. T. Meade

“ Kort's remark.
“I should like to see her in consulation with Chetwynd,” were my next words, “and to go very carefully into her symptoms.”
“I make no objection,” said Kort, with a shrug of his shoulders, “but at the first consultation it will be necessary for me to be present; you can then prescribe exactly what treatment you like, Cato; but come now at once. There is a marked change for the worse in poor Seafield, and I do not think he will last out the day.” ”

“ Mr. Beauchamp left, we understand, a will in which Mr. Sutherland is his sole heir. Now, certain rumours with relation to Mr. Sutherland's past, with which, gentlemen, I need hardly trouble you, have made us delay in paying the insurance, and we are bound to make every investigation. I understand that Mr. Beauchamp died in this house. Are you two doctors certain that he died of natural causes?”
“Mr. Harold Beauchamp died of laryngeal spasm following ataxic paraplegia,” I answered, quickly. “But as our other partner, Mr. Kort, was attending him, I will ask him to come here at once.” ”

“ A very few moments later we three doctors met in consultation over our new patient, Harold Beauchamp. His strange complaint had made great strides, and was evidently in the last stage. As we made our examination I noticed that Kort seemed unusually deferential, and had cast aside his ordinary somewhat overbearing and self-assertive airs. He yielded at once to Chetwynd's and my diagnosis, and asked what treatment we should recommend.
“Perfect rest, for one thing,” said Chetwynd; “and as to drugs, there is only one in my opinion worth trying, and that is uranium nitrate. ”

“ V.—“A HANDFUL OF ASHES.” KORT having been honourably acquitted of any share in the murder of poor Charles Ridley, the course of events at the Club resumed its normal routine. Kort himself was full of energy and devotion to the profession which he had adopted. In spite of my strong prejudice against him I could not but admit that he was more or less both Chetwynd's and my own right hand. Being a younger man he had been educated in a newer school of medical thought, and was more daring in his experiments for the cure of patients than either of us. ”

“ Five minutes later we were rapidly driving towards the City.
“You know,” said Chetwynd, as we drove along, “that recent experiments have abundantly proved that a metal can be isolated from ashes when not volatilized by cremation, and certainly uranium would not be. Silver, copper, and many other metals would act in the same way, but the great point in this case will be the fact that uranium is such a rare metal that no counsel for the defence could possibly uphold a plea of its accidentally having found access to the ashes.” ”

“ In the end we came away, Chetwynd fully convinced that the wretched girl was a confirmed lunatic and full of pity for Kort, whom he considered a most indulgent and self-sacrificing husband.
“My hope is,” said Kort, after our consultation had come to an end, “that a long residence in the Davos suite, joined to absolute quiet and freedom from excitement, may gradually combat the worst symptoms from which my poor wife suffers. ”

“ Tiresome and worrying as you find your life, your malady is not in itself fatal. You may have many years yet before you. I have even known cases like yours go on to old age.”
“That would be a very melancholy state of things,” he said, slowly. He paused again. “Now I will tell you,” he continued, “why I asked that question. Two mornings ago I happened to overhear a conversation between Mr. Kort and my uncle. I did not catch everything they said, but I knew that they were discussing me and my symptoms, and I caught the words—'laryngeal spasm.' What did they mean by that expression? ”

“ The poor fellow seems to be very ill—a bad form of ataxic paraplegia. Ah! there is Kort just passing the window.” Chetwynd hurried to the open window. “Come in, Kort, won't you?” he said, “and satisfy Cato with regard to the advisability of receiving Beauchamp as a member.”
Kort dropped the cigarette which he was smoking, and entered through the open French window.
“Beauchamp would make a desirable member,” he said at once, “and in admitting him we secure another member as well, no less a person than his uncle, the well-known Mr. Sutherland. ”

“ I noticed also that the pulses in her temples were throbbing perceptibly.
“It is only what always happens,” she said, faintly, “when I—when I——” She stopped and drew herself up with a look of affright. “What can be wrong?” ”

“ From O'Brien's remark there is something odd with regard to Sutherland's past life, and he alone, so far as we can tell, is benefited by the death of his nephew. One thing at least is certain—if such a dose were given to Beauchamp it would certainly kill him.”
“Since you do not know the amount that was originally in the bottle, I do not see what use there is in saying anything about it,” I replied, gloomily.
Chetwynd paced up and down the room quickly.
“You can prove nothing,” I continued; “the body has been cremated, and, therefore, all trace of poisoning gone.” ”

“ If my suspicion that Beauchamp's death was caused by an excessive dose of uranium nitrate is correct, a careful quantitative analysis of the ashes might reveal some interesting evidence.”
“By Jove! Chetwynd, that is an idea. Yes, it would certainly be the case. What do you mean to do?”
“I shall sift this matter thoroughly. I have been slow in my suspicions, but now that they are aroused I promise you I will not let the grass grow under my feet. I mean to go immediately to town to see O'Brien. Come, let us go together.” ”

“ As he spoke, Russell crossed the room, opened the door, and led us down a passage into a splendidly-fitted laboratory on the same floor. As he closed the door of this room he spoke.
“Before we begin,” he said, “in an analysis of such great importance we should clearly decide on our line of action. The substance we have to deal with is limited in amount, so we cannot afford to make mistakes. My idea is this. Whatever salt of uranium was administered, we shall now from the ashes doubtless find it in the form of oxide U3O8. ”

“ Chetwynd crossed towards the door.
“I am going out,” he said. “I will leave you two to discuss the matter. Write by today's post, Cato, and send the necessary prospectus to Beauchamp.” He closed the door behind him.
Kort went across to the mantelpiece, lit a fresh cigarette, and offered me one, which I declined.
“Has it not struck you lately, Cato, that things have gone somewhat badly?” was his next remark.
“Can you be surprised?” I answered; “the tragedies that have occurred here are not likely to improve the status of the place. ”

“ The custom of the firm was that after a careful consultation each patient was put under the special care of one doctor alone. Beauchamp, by his own and his uncle's desire, was attended entirely by Kort. This seemed natural enough, as Kort had been the one to introduce him to the Club, and Sutherland told me on one occasion that he knew Kort personally for several years. Sutherland himself after the first day or two turned out an agreeable member of our little community. ”

“ Kort, on whom, owing to the circumstances of the case, such might possibly fall. I cannot bear the load of guilt any longer. My mind is going. God help me.
“Edgar Walter Sutherland.” A silence followed the words of the police-officer. He looked at O'Brien.
“Well, sir,” he said, “we cannot arrest a dead man.”
“And as your company will not have to pay the insurance money in any case now, I presume the law will have nothing further to do in the matter,” said Chetwynd. ”

“ The Club cannot long go on with such tragedies and suspicions filling the very air.”
Chetwynd made no reply for a moment.
“Too queer,” he said at last; “these cannot be mere coincidences. Cato, I do not know what you will think of me, but I am at last inclined to share your fears.”
“About Mrs. Kort? About poor Charles Ridley? ”