"shameful disease."

Henriette was also hearing arguments from her father, who by this time
had had time to think things over, and had come to the conclusion
that the doctor was right. He had noted his son-in-law's patience and
penitence, and had also made sure that in spite of everything Henriette
still loved him. The baby apparently was doing well; and the Frenchman,
with his strong sense of family ties, felt it a serious matter to
separate a child permanently from its father. So in the end he cast
the weight of his influence in favor of a reconciliation, and Henriette
returned to her husband, upon terms which the doctor laid down.

The doctor played in these negotiations the part which he had not been
allowed to play in the marriage. For the deputy was now thoroughly awake
to the importance of the duty he owed his daughter. In fact, he had
become somewhat of a "crank" upon the whole subject. He had attended
several of the doctor's clinics, and had read books and pamphlets on the
subject of syphilis, and was now determined that there should be some
practical steps towards reform.

At the outset, he had taken the attitude of the average legislator, that
the thing to do was to strengthen the laws against prostitution, and to
enforce them more strictly. He echoed the cry of the old man whom George
had heard in the doctor's office: "Are there not enough police?"

"We must go to the source," he declared. "We must proceed against these
miserable women--veritable poisoners that they are!"

He really thought this was going to the source! But the doctor was quick
to answer his arguments. "Poisoners?" he said. "You forget that they
have first been poisoned. Every one of these women who communicates the
disease has first received it from some man."

Monsieur Loches advanced to his second idea, to punish the men. But the
doctor had little interest in this idea either. He had seen it tried so
many times--such a law could never be enforced. What must come first was
education, and by this means a modification of morals. People must cease
to treat syphilis as a mysterious evil, of which not even the name could
be pronounced.

"But," objected the other, "one cannot lay it bare to children in our
educational institutions!"

"Why not?" asked the doctor.

"Because, sir, there are curiosities which it would be imprudent to
awaken."

The doctor became much excited whenever he heard this argument. "You
believe that you are preve