longed to hold her in my arms and I said to myself that, even if she was
tricking me, it was quite a pleasing trick--if she could stand it, I
could--so I--I kissed her some more. I begged her to speak to me, to
respond to me, to tell me she returned my love and would be my wife; but
she didn't answer, didn't move, or speak, she didn't even open her eyes,
and presently I was filled with a horrible sense of shame. I felt like
a thief in the night, stealing caresses that were not meant for me or
willingly given. I realized that something terrible must have happened
to Penelope, although she looked so calm and beautiful.

"And now my only thought was to call for help. I hurried into the next
room and tried to get you on the telephone, but they said you were at
the hospital and could not be reached for an hour. Then I rushed back to
the studio and, as soon as I came in, I could scarcely believe my eyes
but there was Penelope standing in front of the fireplace, just as I had
left her the first time. She was looking at the blazing logs with a
thoughtful expression and when I came close to her, she faced me
naturally and pleasantly as if nothing had happened.

"You can imagine my astonishment, I could not speak, but--I was so
relieved to find her recovered that I put my arm around her
affectionately and just touched my lips to her cheek. Heavens! You
should have seen her then. She sprang away from me indignant. How dared
I take such a liberty? Had she not reproved me already? It was
incredible that a man who professed to care for her, a gentleman, should
be so lacking in delicacy. And before I could do anything or explain
anything, she had dashed out into the night alone, refusing even to let
me walk beside her. Now then," Christopher concluded, "what do you make
of that?"

"Strange!" nodded the doctor, "very strange. And in spite of this she
came to see you again?"

"Yes, two evenings later, without any warning, she burst into my studio
about nine o'clock."

"In a red dress?"

"Yes."

"And a black hat?"

"Yes."

"Good Lord, it's true!" muttered Owen. "Go on, my boy. I want the
details. This may be exceedingly important. Go right through the scene
from the beginning."

After a moment of perplexed silence, Christopher continued: "When I say
she burst in, that about expresses it. She was like a whirlwind, a red,
laughing, fascinating whirlwind. I had never seen her half so
beautiful--so alluring. I was mad about he