“Just leave it to me, Frank.
I’ll take care of it.
The important thing for you to do is to rest and say nothing at all, until I talk to you later.
And now I’ll have to be going to take charge.”
Just then Jamieson entered the room.
“Come on, Jamieson,” said Dr.
James, “the first thing we have to do is see the captain.”
Whereupon they left the room together.
Three-quarters of an hour later an ambulance that had been waiting in the street below was allowed to back up to Exit 4, which was as vacant as though there were no passengers still waiting to leave the ship.
At the direction of Jamieson, two carriers bearing a canvas stretcher proceeded to Cowperwood’s suite, and he was carried to the waiting ambulance.
The doors were closed, the driver sounded his gong, and drove away, while an astonished group of reporters standing a short distance away exclaimed, one to another:
“What do you know about that?
We’ve been double-crossed this time!
Who was that?”
Frustrated in their attempt to learn who had been so ill that it was necessary to remove him, or her, in an ambulance, it was not long before one of them, boasting a friendship with one of the nurses on the vessel, returned with the information that it was none other than Frank Algernon Cowperwood, the celebrated financier.
However, as to what the nature of his illness was, or where he had been taken, these were items that had to be traced down.
But when one reporter suggested getting in touch with Mrs. Cowperwood, several of those present immediately hurried to the nearest telephone to inquire from Aileen if her husband had been taken off the S. S. Empress in an ambulance, and if so, where was he?
It was true, she replied; he was ill, but it was also true that he would have been transferred to the Cowperwood mansion if it were not for the fact that the entire building was in process of alteration in order to make room for an additional art and statuary collection which later was to become the property of the city of New York.
Meanwhile, it was also Mr. Cowperwood’s wish that he be transferred to the Waldorf-Astoria, where he could have such quiet and attention as at present he could not obtain in his own home.
Accordingly, by one o’clock of this same day, the news of Cowperwood’s arrival and illness and present whereabouts was in every afternoon paper in the city, although, due to the precaution of Dr. James, no visitors were allowed without a written consent from the doctor himself, and three nurses were placed in charge.
However, Cowperwood, realizing the possibility of Berenice receiving alarming news concerning his illness, requested Dr. James to send the following telegram to her still on board ship:
“Report of my illness greatly exaggerated.
Do everything exactly as planned.
Dr. James in charge.
Will tell you what to do.
Affectionately, Frank.”
In spite of the fact that this telegram brought such distressing news, Berenice was somehow consoled by the fact that he was able to wire her so reassuringly.
And yet she was haunted by uncertainty as to the nature of this illness.
At any rate, whatever the result, her place, as she felt, was beside him.
Yet walking through the main salon of the vessel later in the afternoon, she was startled by the news poster tacked on the news board:
“Frank Cowperwood, celebrated American financier and London traction magnate, stricken on board S. S. Empress, and removed on arrival in New York to Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.”
Stunned and grieved by these cold words in black and white, she was still relieved to learn that he was to be at the hotel instead of his home.
She had a suite reserved there, so at least she would be near him.
Nonetheless, there was the possibility of encountering Aileen, and this would be painful, not only for her but for Cowperwood.
And yet he had asked her to come to the hotel, as originally planned, so he must have some procedure worked out.
However, this new vulnerable social arrangement was such an extreme contrast to her protected seclusion at Pryor’s Cove that she now wondered if she had the necessary courage or stamina to go through with it.
But even in the face of these difficulties and dangers she felt that she must be near him, regardless of consequences.
For he needed her, and she must answer that need.
Once so decided, the following morning, as soon as the vessel docked and she had declared her luggage, she went to the hotel, where she calmly registered under the name of Kathryn Trent.
But once within the privacy of her own suite, she was faced with the numerous angles of her situation.
What to do?
For, as she knew, Aileen might already be with him.
But while she was meditating on the problem, a call came from Dr. James, telling her that Cowperwood would like to see her, and that his suite was number 1020.
She thanked him very cordially and said she would go to him at once.
Dr. James added that although Cowperwood was in no immediate danger, rest and quiet being his principal needs at present, he had ordered that no one be allowed to see him for a few days, with the exception of herself.
Upon arriving at his suite, she was ushered directly into his presence, where she found him lying propped up on pillows, looking pale and not a little distrait, but brightening as she neared him.
She bent over and kissed him.
“Darling!
I’m so sorry.
I was afraid that this trip might be too much for you.