together
with what happened later--was the doctor's flying into a passion with
me for mislaying a hypodermic needle. I haven't told you that yet,
have I?"

"No. Was it after _the_ injection?"

"It was, and at the very moment when you cut your hand. I put the
needle down to attend to you, and I completely forgot where I had laid
it. He was fearfully angry, called me names and abused me in a way
that got my back up. There seemed no reason for it; I couldn't
understand it at all. Then the same day your father got suddenly
worse, you remember, and I should have forgotten all about the beast's
nasty temper, only..."

"Yes, what happened?"

"Why, quite suddenly, I found the needle! Where do you think? Inside
a big book of drawings! I began wondering; I put two and two
together.... You see, I didn't dare mention my awful suspicion--I
couldn't! It might have ruined me for ever if I was wrong. So I did
the only thing I could think of: I took the needle to that chemist and
got it analysed. You know all the rest."

"If only you had confided in me, Esther!"

"Even so it was too late to save your father; nothing would have saved
him. And you quite understand that if the suspicion had proved
unfounded it would have finished me as a nurse for all time!"

He looked at her intently.

"Would that have meant so much to you?"

"Well, what do you think? I've got to earn my living."

"But as far as that goes you might have guessed--that is you might
have..."

He broke off as a knock at the door heralded the entrance of a waiter
bearing a tray with two frosty cocktails.

"Ah! here's something to put a little colour in your cheeks. You want
bucking up, you know! Here's how!"

She took an appreciative sip, then set down her glass, turning on him a
slightly troubled face.

"Roger ... I suppose if this man is caught, it will mean a trial. I
shall be wanted as a witness, sha'n't I? The chief witness, even!"

"Yes, my dear, you will," he replied reluctantly. "I hate the thought
of it as much as you do. I wish there were some way to spare you."

"I expect he'll try to prove I'm insane," she said slowly. "Or else
that I had some low motive in trying to fasten suspicion on to him.
Perhaps he'll even suggest to his lawyer that I was out to blackmail
him!"

"Esther, you're frightfully astute to think of such a thing. It's
quite on the cards he will do that. He'll use every weapon in his
power, unless ..."