symptoms, and seen clearly that she was becoming seriously ill. He expressed a desire to be shown to her room immediately, and, as he seemed to speak on the subject as if he were a relation, no objection was made by the medical man, save by the observation, "that sore throats were very infectious, and he would do well to keep at a distance from the patient," but Fanchette, in the most violent manner, protested against such a proceeding.
"You see my lady in the bed! you see her with the flannel all wrap up, no toilette! un vilain cœuffure you! O! she go die instant."
Riccardini recollected himself, and changed his purpose. The best thing he could do, was to fetch Helen, and in less than half an hour he was on his road to London, but not until he had authorized the landlady to take immediate possession of the purse and dressing-case of Lady Anne; a circumstance extremely offensive to Fanchette, until informed that it was always the custom when strange nurses were brought into sick rooms. She had, however, the comfort of knowing that her lady's wardrobe was in her power, but it did not avail her much, as the servants of the house were so shocked at the Frenchwoman's refusal to nurse her sick lady, that every eye was upon her in the way of espial and condemnation; and having declared most solemnly that the complaint of her lady was contagious, she effectually closed the housekeeper's room at the duke's, against herself.
