worse. It
seems that she has taken a marked antipathy to him, we don't know why."

The Frenchman raised his bushy red brows.

"Ah, ah?" he commented. "May I inquire if you had any knowledge of
this antipathy before she went away?"

"I had," replied Sartorius heavily. "I mentioned the fact to Lady
Clifford. I had begun to suspect at the last that she might be
suffering from some rather obscure mental derangement."

"I see, I see! I daresay you have come to no conclusion as to her
present state, doctor?"

"I have not had an adequate opportunity of judging."

"Yes, yes, I quite understand the difficulty you were placed in. Very
annoying, very annoying! With your permission, then, I will try to see
what it is all about."

During this polite interchange Roger had difficulty in restraining his
impatience. It seemed possible that Esther might perish while these
two medical men discussed the situation. He watched tensely while the
little doctor got out various instruments and bottles, changed his
thick pince-nez for a pair of spectacles with tortoiseshell rims
exactly matching his eyebrows, and finally proceeded with a maddening
deliberation to study the patient, listening at her heart, feeling her
pulse, turning back her eyelids. At last he raised a grave face.

"How long has this condition lasted?" he asked, frowning.

"About twenty minutes, I should say."

The Frenchman pursed his lips and shook his head slightly as he
proceeded with the examination. Roger grew more and more alarmed.
Thinking to facilitate matters, he pointed out the holes in the
coat-sleeve.

"What do you make of those, doctor?" he demanded.

The bristling brows rose in astonishment.

"Ah, ah?" their owner exclaimed, sliding the two sleeves deftly off the
shoulder and scrutinising the red dots on the skin, round which a
bruise was beginning to form. "_Tiens, tiens_, this begins to be more
clear. Doctor," he said, turning to Sartorius, "had you any suspicion
that this young woman was addicted to the use of a drug?"

Roger glanced searchingly at the man by the fireplace. The sallow face
showed no alteration whatever.

"I admit I did not come to that conclusion during the time she was
here," the doctor made answer, "but her conduct at times might have
suggested it. Those marks enlightened me."

In spite of his resolution to restrain himself, Roger took a step
forward angrily.

"Do you mean to insinuate that she gave hersel