ABSTRACT
One of the most unfortunate aspects of the circumstances in which Gissing died was the involvement of H.G.Wells. On realising that her husband was dying, Gabrielle had telegraphed Wells to come to his friend’s deathbed. He sent a telegram to Morley Roberts saying that he was unable to go as he was unwell and asked if Roberts might go instead. Without waiting for Roberts’ response, Wells changed his mind and later the same day sent a telegram informing Gabrielle that he was on his way He arrived two days later and took control, nursing his friend and sending Gabrielle off to bed. In her own words written later she said:
H.G.Wells urges me to take a couple of hours’ rest while he keeps by George’s side. I give him endless injunctions and explanations concerning what must be done while I am out of the room, and very reluctantly, yet listening to reason, as I have not had one moment’s rest for 17 nights and as many days,—I retire to lie down. But uneasiness prevents me from closing my eyes, and an hour later, unable to bear it any longer, I return to my patient’s room.—Alas! the moment I open the door I stand horrorstricken at the sight of the empty bottles, basins, glasses, etc, containing the fluids prescribed to feed the patient in doses of a spoonful every 30 minutes. Mr. Wells triumphantly announces that he has made him swallow all that during the fateful hour: tea, coffee, highly concentrated beef tea, champagne, milk, somatose etc!! I reply, ‘You have killed him, Mr. Wells.’ He rubs his hands gleefully protesting that the patient has refused nothing and that ‘substantial nourishment in plenty’ is all that is needed to cure him. Thereupon he returns to his hotel. In the night temperature rises suddenly to over 104 degrees and a fearful agitation begins, accompanied by violent delirium. G. throws himself out of bed… Next morning (Sunday 27th) the doctor is amazed at the change in the patient’s condition, and on hearing what has happened, he exclaims, ‘He has poisoned him!1
