pose we could know anything? She was quite helpless. She
was imprisoned like a rat in a trap.'

'But, my dear friend, you mustn't give way in this fashion,' said the
doctor. 'What would you say of a patient who came to you with such a
story?'

Arthur answered the question with a shrug of the shoulders.

'I should say he was absurdly hysterical.'

'Well?'

'I can't help it, the feeling's there. If you try all night you'll never
be able to argue me out of it. I feel it in every bone of my body. I
couldn't be more certain if I saw Margaret lying dead in front of me.'

Susie saw that it was indeed useless to reason with him. The only course
was to accept his conviction and make the best of it.

'What do you want us to do?' she asked.

'I want you both to come to England with me at once. If we start now we
can catch the evening train.'

Susie did not answer, but she got up. She touched the doctor on the arm.

'Please come,' she whispered.

He nodded and untucked the napkin he had already arranged over his
waistcoat.

'I've got a cab at the door,' said Arthur.

'And what about clothes for Miss Susie?' said the doctor.

'Oh, we can't wait for that,' cried Arthur. 'For God's sake, come
quickly.'

Susie knew that there was plenty of time to fetch a few necessary things
before the train started, but Arthur's impatience was too great to be
withstood.

'It doesn't matter,' she said. 'I can get all I want in England.'

He hurried them to the door and told the cabman to drive to the station
as quickly as ever he could.

'For Heaven's sake, calm down a little,' said Susie. 'You'll be no good
to anyone in that state.'

'I feel certain we're too late.'

'Nonsense! I'm convinced that you'll find Margaret safe and sound.'

He did not answer. He gave a sigh of relief as they drove into the
courtyard of the station.

14

Susie never forgot the horror of that journey to England. They arrived in
London early in the morning and, without stopping, drove to Euston. For
three or four days there had been unusual heat, and even at that hour the
streets were sultry and airless. The train north was crowded, and it
seemed impossible to get a breath of air. Her head ached, but she was
obliged to keep a cheerful demeanour in the effort to allay Arthur's
increasing anxiety. Dr Porhoet sat in front of her. After the sleepless
night his eyes were heavy and his face deeply lined. He was exhausted.
At length, after much