remarked, "really most
thoughtful."

"What is?" inquired Roger absently, his eyes on Esther.

"Why, to give the doctor a lift back to his house. It is quite out of
her way, but she knows that he hates driving his own car."

"Oh!" he exclaimed briefly, as though the matter did not interest him.
"I wonder if there's a car I can have this afternoon?"

"Certainly, the little Citroen; it's in good order."

"Good, I'll tell Thompson to get it out. I've got a few things to
attend to. As a matter of fact I want to call in at the cable office
and inquire about that message that never reached me."

"Do you think it is any use?"

"I don't know. I'm going to see what happened, anyhow. You're quite
sure it was sent?"

"Of course! Therese saw to it herself. I recall it perfectly."

Roger dropped his cigarette end into his coffee cup and rose with a
stretch of his long arms; then, with a smile that included Esther, he
left the room.

On her way upstairs Esther met the doctor, hat in hand. He stopped
her, laying a heavy finger on her arm, and spoke in a low voice.

"As far as possible," he said slowly, keeping his little lightish eyes
upon her, "try to keep Lady Clifford out of the room. Make excuses.
She is a highly emotional uncontrolled type, and she is likely to have
a bad effect on the patient. Excitement," he added with careful
emphasis, "is the thing we must do everything to guard against. To a
man in his condition it might have disastrous results. You must see
that he is not agitated in any way whatsoever."

"I understand," she replied quickly. "I'll do my very best. Perhaps
it would be as well if you spoke to Lady Clifford yourself."

"I have done so, but I cannot promise that it will be sufficient," he
answered. "She is a difficult woman to manage."

Looking after the ponderous figure as it creaked down the stairs,
Esther wondered if by chance the doctor shared her suspicion as to Lady
Clifford's secret feelings. Did he fear that in some way her adverse
desires might communicate themselves to the invalid with unfortunate
effects? She half thought this was the case. In his cold-blooded way
the doctor was conscientious. He was being highly paid to save the old
man's life, and save him he meant to do, no matter whose wishes stood
in the way.

* * * * *

Late that afternoon, while Miss Clifford was changing her dress for
dinner, there was a knock at her door, and he