nd, that he must go to some warm and kindly climate. There and
with due precautions and observances Almsworth assured Lady Harman he
might survive for many years--"an invalid, of course, but a capable
one."

For some time the business of the International Stores had been
preparing itself for this withdrawal. Sir Isaac had been entrusting his
managers with increased responsibility and making things ready for the
flotation of a company that would take the whole network of enterprises
off his hands. Charterson was associated with him in this, and
everything was sufficiently definite to be managed from any continental
resort to which his doctors chose to send him. They chose to send him to
Santa Margherita on the Ligurian coast near Rapallo and Porto Fino.

It was old Bergener of Marienbad who chose this place. Sir Isaac had
wanted to go to Marienbad, his first resort abroad; he had a lively and
indeed an exaggerated memory of his Kur there; his growing disposition
to distrust had turned him against his London specialist, and he had
caused Lady Harman to send gigantic telegrams of inquiry to old Bergener
before he would be content. But Bergener would not have him at
Marienbad; it wasn't the place, it was the wrong time of year, there
was the very thing for them at the Regency Hotel at Santa Margherita, an
entire dependance in a beautiful garden right on the sea, admirably
furnished and adapted in every way to Sir Isaac's peculiar needs. There,
declared Doctor Bergener, with a proper attendant, due precaution,
occasional oxygen and no excitement he would live indefinitely, that is
to say eight or ten years. And attracted by the eight or ten years,
which was three more than the London specialist offered, Sir Isaac
finally gave in and consented to be taken to Santa Margherita.

He was to go as soon as possible, and he went in a special train and
with an immense elaboration of attendance and comforts. They took with
them a young doctor their specialist at Marienbad had recommended, a
bright young Bavarian with a perfectly square blond head, an incurable
frock coat, the manners of the less kindly type of hotel-porter and
luggage which apparently consisted entirely of apparatus, an arsenal of
strange-shaped shining black cases. He joined them in London and went
right through with them. From Genoa at his request they obtained the
services of a trained nurse, an amiable fluent-shaped woman who knew
only Italian and German. For re