there wasn't much time to think."

A look passed between them.

"You needn't say any more, Chalmers, I know you would never have acted
as you did without a strong reason. I take it you heard something from
Miss Rowe when you let her in."

"I did, sir, and I was fair paralysed with what she told me. What's
more, I could take my oath she's as sensible as you or me, let them say
what they will."

The old man's habitually wooden face showed deep emotion.

"See here, Chalmers, lock the door of my room and bring me the key.
We'll see that no one gets in there to tamper with that bottle, just in
case there's anything wrong."

"Yes, sir, and if you'll take my advice, sir, you'll keep an eye on
that doctor. I don't think we can trust him, sir."

With this parting counsel, spoken in a tone of strong conviction, the
butler departed on his mission.

Although burning to know what Esther had said to Chalmers on her
precipitate dash up the stairs, Roger felt his curiosity must remain
unsatisfied for the present. At the moment all that mattered was her
safety, already he had left her too long. He suddenly realised that he
had been away at least five minutes, and assailed by fresh fears he
hurried at once into the boudoir.

He entered confident of finding his aunt in charge of the situation.
The next instant he cursed his folly in ever leaving the room. The old
lady was not there. Instead, the clumsy figure bending over the couch
and concealing its occupant from view was that of Sartorius. To his
excited brain there was a sinister suggestion in the heavy body that
approached so close to the girl lately terrified into unconsciousness.
Roger did not stop to think. He strode forward and with a brusque
movement caught hold of the man's arm and pulled him away. As he did
so his nostrils detected a familiar odour and he caught sight of some
object held in the doctor's hand. Was it a hypodermic syringe? A sick
feeling swept over him.

"What are you doing to her?" he demanded furiously.

The doctor straightened up and for a second the two eyed each other in
tense silence. Then a shadow of contempt passed over the taller man's
face.

"My dear Mr. Clifford," he replied deliberately, "if you go away and
leave this woman in a critical condition for a considerable length of
time, you can hardly expect me not to do what I can for her. You may
even admit that my knowledge of what is best is perhaps more extensive
than yo