As for me I fell back into my former way of life of assistant to
Fonseca, posing before the world as his nephew. But it came about that
from the night of my duel with the murderer, my master's health declined
steadily through the action of a wasting disease of the liver which
baffled all skill, so that within eight months of that time he lay
almost bedridden and at the point of death. His mind indeed remained
quite clear, and on occasions he would even receive those who came to
consult him, reclining on a chair and wrapped in his embroidered robe.
But the hand of death lay on him, and he knew that it was so. As the
weeks went by he grew more and more attached to me, till at length, had
I been his son, he could not have treated me with a greater affection,
while for my part I did what lay in my power to lessen his sufferings,
for he would let no other physician near him.
At length when he had grown very feeble he expressed a desire to see a
notary. The man he named was sent for and remained closeted with him for
an hour or more, when he left for a while to return with several of
his clerks, who accompanied him to my master's room, from which I was
excluded. Presently they all went away, bearing some parchments with
them.
That evening Fonseca sent for me. I found him very weak, but cheerful
and full of talk.
'Come here, nephew,' he said, 'I have had a busy day.
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