nquire about taking her
luggage down, and, consequently, she was unprepared when the door
opened to reveal the big, stolid bulk of the doctor. His slow-moving
eyes glanced about the little room, taking in her preparations for
departure. When he spoke it was in a tone unexpectedly agreeable.

"I thought of inquiring, Miss Rowe, what plans you have for the
immediate future? Is it your intention to go back at once to New York?"

"I don't think so, doctor, but really I don't quite know what I'm going
to do."

He nodded and cleared his throat slightly.

"I think I have mentioned to you that for the present I do not intend
to resume my practice. I mean to take a short holiday instead, so you
of course understand that I shall not require your services."

"Oh, perfectly, doctor," she replied quickly, sure that her voice must
betray the irony she felt. As if she cared, indeed, whether he wanted
her or not!

"I take it, then, that you may remain in Cannes for some time. Have
you any friends here?"

Really! She had never before discovered his taking any interest in
anyone's personal affairs. What had come over him? She replied with a
certain reserve:

"No, none at all. I shall go for a few days to a pension Miss Clifford
told me about. After that I have no idea what I shall do."

He appeared to ponder this information, though for the life of her she
could not see how it could interest him. At last, eyeing her trunk
absently and tapping his chin as if in thought, he spoke again.

"In that case I may as well drive you down to your pension. Let me
know when you are ready to go."

Completely taken aback, she hastened, perhaps overhurriedly, to
disclaim the proffered civility.

"Oh, no, thank you, doctor, I'll just take a taxi. I couldn't think of
troubling you."

"It is no trouble," he returned firmly and in a manner that brooked no
dispute. "I should prefer to see you safely to your destination. In
any case, I am going that way myself."

Much as she shrank from the thought of half an hour in his company, she
did not well see how she could refuse, particularly as it seemed as
though he were making an awkward effort to atone for his past rudeness
to her. Accordingly she resolved to put a cheerful face on it.

"All right, then, doctor, if you're quite sure it's not putting you
out. I'll be ready in a quarter of an hour."

Not till after he had gone did she recall his words, "I am going that
way mys