ich the women lived,
he suggested that his companion would do well to wait at the door. "I'm
used to sad sights: it would only distress you to see the place. I won't
keep you long waiting."

He was as good as his word. In little more than ten minutes, he joined
Amelius again in the street.

"Don't alarm yourself," he said. "The case is not so serious as it
looks. The poor child is suffering under a severe shock to the brain and
nervous system, caused by that sudden and violent distress you hinted
at. My medicine will give her the one thing she wants to begin with--a
good night's sleep."

Amelius asked when she would be well enough to see him.

"Ah, my young friend, it's not so easy to say, just yet! I could answer
you to better purpose tomorrow. Won't that do? Must I venture on a rash
opinion? She ought to be composed enough to see you in three or four
days. And, when that time comes, it's my belief you will do more than I
can do to set her right again."

Amelius was relieved, but not quite satisfied yet. He inquired if it was
not possible to remove her from that miserable place.

"Quite impossible--without doing her serious injury. They have got money
to go on with; and I have told you already, she will be well taken care
of. I will look after her myself tomorrow morning. Go home, and get to
bed, and eat a bit of supper first, and make your mind easy. Come to
my house at twelve o'clock, noon, and you will find me ready with my
references, and my report of the patient. Surgeon Pinfold, Blackacre
Buildings; there's the address. Good night."

CHAPTER 10

After Amelius had left him, Rufus remembered his promise to communicate
with Regina by telegraph.

With his strict regard for truth, it was no easy matter to decide on
what message he should send. To inspire Regina, if possible, with
his own unshaken belief in the good faith of Amelius, appeared,
on reflection, to be all that he could honestly do, under present
circumstances. With an anxious and foreboding mind, he despatched his
telegram to Paris in these terms:--"Be patient for a while, and do
justice to A. He deserves it."

Having completed his business at the telegraph-office, Rufus went next
to pay his visit to Mrs. Payson.

The good lady received him with a grave face and a distant manner, in
startling contrast to the customary warmth of her welcome. "I used to
think you were a man in a thousand," she began abruptly; "and I find
you are no better