Of this, however, nothing certain was
known. None of the best people, so called, in S----paid her the
hospitable compliment of a visit; and she showed no disposition to
intrude herself upon them. And so they stood towards each other as
strangers; and the Allen house remained, as from the beginning, to
most people a terra incognita.
Neither Captain Allen nor his Spanish consort, to whom no children
were born, as they advanced in years, "grew old gracefully." Both
had repulsive features, which were strongly marked by passion and
sensuality. During the last two years of his life I was frequently
called to see him, and prescribe for his enemy, the gout, by which
he was sorely afflicted. Mrs. Allen also required treatment. Her
nervous system was disordered; and, on closer observation, I
detected signs of a vagrant imagination, leading her away into
states verging upon insanity. She was fretful and ill-tempered; and
rarely spoke to the Captain except complainingly, or in anger. The
visits I made to the Allen house, during the lifetime of Captain
Allen, were among the most unsatisfactory of all my professional
calls.
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