always, he said, enjoyed the finest health, and was as little inclined
to hysteria as woman well could be. Lefevre told the father that this
was something other than hystero-hypnotism, which, while it reassured
him as to his daughter's former health, made him the more anxious
regarding her present condition.

"It is very extraordinary," said the old lord; "but whatever it is,--and
you say it is like the young man's case that we have all read
about,--whatever it is,"--and he laid his hand emphatically on the
doctor's arm,--"she could not be in more capable hands than yours."

That assurance, though soothing to the doctor's self-esteem, added
gravely to his sense of responsibility.

While they were yet speaking, Lefevre was further troubled by the
announcement that a detective-inspector desired to speak with him!
Should he tell the inspector all that he had seen the night before, and
all that he suspected now, or should he hold his peace? His duty as a
citizen, as a doctor, and as, in a sense, the protector of his patient,
seemed to demand the one course, while his consideration for Julius and
for his own family suggested the other. Surely, never was a simple,
upright doctor involved in a more bewildering _imbroglio_!

The detective-inspector entered, and opened an interview which proved
less embarrassing than Lefevre had anticipated. The detective had
already made up his mind about the case and his course regarding it. He
put no curious questions; he merely inquired concerning the identity and
the condition of the lady. When he heard who she was, and when he caught
the import of an aside from Lord Rivercourt that it would be worth any
one's while to discover the mysterious offender, professional zeal
sparkled in his eye.

"I think I know my man," said he; and the doctor looked the lively
interest he felt. "I am right, I believe, Dr Lefevre, in setting this
down to the author of that other case you had,--that from the Brighton
train?" Lefevre thought he was right in that. "'M. Dolaro:' that was the
name. I had charge of the case, and was baffled. I shan't miss him this
time. I shall get on his tracks at once; he can't have left the Park in
broad daylight, a singular man like him, without being noticed."

"It rather puzzles me," said the doctor, "what crime you will charge him
with."

"It is an outrage," said Lord Rivercourt; "and if it is not criminal, it
seems about time it were made so."

"Oh, we'll class it,