Racksole had an idea that he should feel safer in
that hotel of his, and better able to deal with any situation that
might arise. Nella scorned the idea. In her quality of an amateur
nurse, she assured them that Prince Eugen was much more
seriously ill than either of them suspected, and she urged that they
should take absolute possession of the house, and keep possession
till Prince Eugen was convalescent.
'But what about the Spencer female?' Racksole had said.
'Keep her where she is. Keep her a prisoner. And hold the house
against all comers. If Jules should come back, simply defy him to
enter - that is all.
There are two of you, so you must keep an eye on the former
occupiers, if they return, and on Miss Spencer, while I nurse the
patient. But first, you must send for a doctor.'
'Doctor!' Prince Aribert had said, alarmed. 'Will it not be necessary
to make some awkward explanation to the doctor?'
'Not at all!' she replied. 'Why should it be? In a place like Ostend
doctors are far too discreet to ask questions; they see too much to
retain their curiosity. Besides, do you want your nephew to die?'
Both the men were somewhat taken aback by the girl's sagacious
grasp of the situation, and it came about that they began to obey
her like subordinates.
She told her father to sally forth in search of a doctor, and he went.
She gave Prince Aribert certain other orders, and he promptly
executed them.
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