He would have done nothing assailable, and he would have gained all the advantages of the time Claudius lost, not to mention the cloud of suspicion which must inevitably rest on the Doctor, until he should succeed in clearing himself before the world.

With skill, courage, and money, there was no telling what progress Barker might make in his suit for the Countess, before Claudius was himself again.

With such an advantage, if he could not outdo the Swede, he did not deserve to.
So saying, Mr.Barker, left once more alone in the sitting-room, paced slowly twice round the table, looked at himself in the glass, twisted his heavy moustache into shape, and smoothed his hair.

Then he took his hat and went out.

There was a cab at the door of the club, and in a minute more he was spinning along Fifth Avenue, in the direction of his father's house.
The machinery was wound up, and he had nothing more to do.