et?"

Barry watched Ba'teese closely. But the old man's face was a blank.

"Signs? Of what?"

"Coming to--remembering who he is."

"Oh." Ba'tiste shrugged his shoulders. "I have give eet up."

"Then--"

"So far Ba'teese is concern'," and he looked down on the bed with a
glance which told Barry far more than words, "he is already name. He
is M'sieu Nobody. I can get no more."

Thayer scratched his head. He turned.

"Anyway, I'm going to make one more attempt at it. See what you can
do, Medaine."

The girl came forward then, half smiling, and seated herself beside the
bed. She took Barry's hand in hers, then with a laugh turned to Thayer.

"What shall I do? Make love to him?"

"Why not?" It was old Ba'tiste edging forward, the twinkle once more
in his eyes. "Bon--good! Make love to him."

"Do you suppose it would help?" The girl was truly serious now.

"Why not?"

"I don't think--" Thayer had edged forward, nervously. Ba'tiste
pushed him gently.

"Peuff! And when did M'sieu Thayer become _l' M'sieu Doctaire_?
Ba'teese say ask him if he like you."

Medaine laughed.

"Do you like me?"

Brown eyes met blue eyes. A smile passed between them. It was with an
effort that Houston remembered that he was only playing a part.

"I certainly do!"

"Ask him, 'Do you like me better than anybody you ever--'"

"What sense is there to all this?"

"Blooey! And why should you ask? Why should you stand with a frown on
your face? Peuff! It is ugly enough already!" To Barry, it was quite
evident that there was some purpose behind the actions of Old Ba'tiste,
and certainly more than mere pleasantry in his words. "You ask Medaine
to help Ba'teese, and then _facher vous_! Enough. Ask him, Medaine."

"But--" the girl was laughing now, her eyes beaming, a slight flush
apparent in her cheeks--"maybe he doesn't want me to--"

"Oh, but I do!" There was something in the tone of Barry Houston which
made the color deepen. "I--I like it."

"That's enough!" Thayer, black-featured, his gnarled hands clenched
into ugly knots, came abruptly forward. "I thought this was a serious
thing; I didn't know you were going to turn it into a burlesque!"

"Perhaps M'sieu Thayer has studied the practice of medicine?"

"No. But--"

"Nor, pardon, the practice of politeness. Ba'teese will not need your
help."

"Whether you need it or not, I'll come back when you're through with
this infernal horseplay.