He was almost ungovernable at first, in
spite of the drugs the doctor gave him, but these had their effect in
time; and then the tapering-off process began, combined with hotly
peppered soups and the vegetable most inimical to alcohol; finally
food in increasing quantity to restore his depleted vitality. In his
first sane moment he had made Holt promise that Madeleine should not
see him, and she had sent word that she would wait until he sent for
her.
Madeleine took long walks, and drives, and read in the Astor
Library. She also replenished her wardrobe. The color came back to
her cheeks, the sparkle to her eyes. She had made all her plans. The
house in Virginia was being renovated. She would take him there as
soon as he could be moved. When he was strong again he would start
his newspaper. Holt and Lacey were as overjoyed at the prospect of
being his assistant editors as at the almost unbelievable rescue of
Langdon Masters.
He had remained in bed after the worst was over, sunk in torpor,
with no desire to leave it or to live. But strength gradually
returned to his wasted frame, the day nurse was dismissed, and he
appeared to listen when Holt talked to him, although he would not
reply. One day, however, when he believed himself to be alone, he
opened his eyes and stared at the wall covered with his books, as he
had done before through half-closed lids.
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