CHAPTER XXIII.
Master Raymond Also Complains of an "Evil Hand."
Master Raymond had everything now prepared upon his part, and wasawaiting a message from Captain Alden, to the effect that he had made apositive engagement with the Danish captain.
He had caught a serious cold on his return from Boston and, turning thematter over in his mind--for it is a wise thing to try to get some goodresult out of even apparently evil occurrences--he had called in thevillage doctor.
But the good Doctor's medicine did not seem to work as it ought to--forone reason, Master Raymond regularly emptied the doses out of thewindow; thinking as he told Master Joseph, to put them where they woulddo the most good. And when the Doctor came, and found that neitherpurging nor vomiting had been produced, these with bleeding and sweatingbeing the great panaceas of that day--as perhaps of this--he wasnaturally astonished. In a case where neither castor oil, senna andmanna, nor large doses of Glauber's salts would work, a medical man wascertainly justified in thinking that something must be wrong.
Master Raymond suggested whether "an evil hand" might not be upon him.This was the common explanation at that time in Salem and itsneighborhood. The doctors and the druggists nowadays miss a great dealin not having such an excuse made ready to their hands--it would accountalike for adulterated drugs and ill-judged remedies.
Master Raymond had the reputation of being rich, and the Doctor had beenmortified by the bad behavior of his medicines--for if a patient be notcured, if he is at least vigorously handled, there seems to be somethingthat can with propriety be heavily charged for. But if a doctor doesnothing--neither cures, nor anything else--with what face can he bringin a weighty bill?
And so good Doctor Griggs readily acquiesced in his patient'ssupposition that "an evil hand," was at work, and even suggested that heshould bring Abigail Williams or some other "afflicted" girl with himthe next time he came, to see with her sharpened eyes who it was thatwas bewitching him.
But Master Raymond declined the offer--at least for the present. If thething continued, and grew worse, he might be able himself to see who itwas. Why should he not be as able to do it as Abigail Williams, or anyother of the "afflicted" circle? Of course the doctor was not able toanswer why; there seemed to be no good reason why one set of "afflicted"people should have a monopoly of the accusing business.
Of course this came very quickly from the Doctor to Mistress AnnPutnam--for he was a regular attendant of that lady, whose nervoussystem indeed was in a fearful state by this time. And she puzzled agood deal over it. Did Master Raymond intend to accuse anyone? Who wasit? Or was it merely a hint thrown out, that it was a game that twoparties could play at?
But then she smiled--she had the two ministers, and through them all theother ministers of the colony--the magistrates and judges--and theadvantages of the original position. Imitators always failed. Still sherather liked the young man's craft and boldness--Joseph Putnam wouldnever have thought of such a thing. But still let him beware how heattempted to thwart her plans. He would soon find that she was thestronger.
Joseph Putnam then began to answer inquiries as to the health of hisguest,--that he was not much better, and thought somewhat of going up toBoston for further medical advice--as the medicines given him so far didnot seem to work as well as they should do.
"Could he bear the ride?"
"Oh, very well indeed--his illness had not so far affected his strengthmuch."