lled to minister to Lady Hermione
Twells in respect of some minor ailment--elected to put in the overtime,
between two trains, in a visit to General Frayling. For the date drew
near of his yearly removal from the Riviera to Cotteret-les-Bains, in the
Ardennes, where, during the summer season, he exploited the physical
infelicities and mental credulities of his more wealthy fellow-creatures.
The _etablissement_ at Cotteret was run by a syndicate, in which Dr.
Stewart-Walker held--in the name of an obliging friend and solicitor--a
preponderating number of shares. At this period of the spring he always
became anxious to clear up, not to say clear out, his southern clienetle
lest any left-over members of it should fall into the clutches of one of
his numerous local rivals. And, in this connection, it may be noted as
remarkable to how many of the said clientele a "cure" at
Cotteret-les-Bains offered assurance of permanent restoration to health.

Among that happy band, as it now appeared, General Frayling might
be counted. The dry, exciting climate of St. Augustin, and its
near neighbourhood to the sea, were calculated to aggravate the
gastric complications from which that polite little warrior so
distressingly suffered.

"This, I fear we must recognize, my dear madam, is a critical period with
your husband; and treatment, for the next six months or so, is of
cardinal importance; I consider high inland air, if possible forest air,
indispensable. What I should _like_ you to do is to take our patient
north by slow stages; and I earnestly counsel a course of waters before
the return to England is attempted."

Thereupon, agreeable visions of festive toilettes and festive casinos
flitting through Henrietta's mind, she named Homburg and other German
spas of world-wide popularity. But at such ultra-fashionable resorts, as
Dr. Stewart-Walker, with a suitable air of regret, reminded her, the
season did not open until too late to meet existing requirements.

"Let me think, let me think," he repeated, head sagely bent and
forefinger on lip.

He ran through a number of Latin terms, to her in the main
incomprehensible; then looked up, relieved and encouraging.

"Yes, we might, I believe, safely try it. The medical properties of the
springs--particularly those of La Nonnette--meet our patient's case
excellently. And I should not lose sight of him--a point, I own, with me,
for your husband's condition presents features of peculiar int