t still--the fact is I'm
positively upset by all that's happened."

He grasped the rail with both hands. Evidently he had only held his own
against Bella Donna at the expense of his nervous system.

"When we left him, I told her I must get you in. She was furious, said
she wouldn't have you, that you had always been against her, that you
had nearly prevented her marriage with Mr. Armine, that you had maligned
her all over London."

"Did she say any of this before her husband?"

"Not all that. No. We were in the first saloon. But I thought the men
would have heard her. She really lost her head. She was distinctly
hysterical. It was a most awkward position for me. But--but I was
resolved to dominate her."

"And you did?"

"Well--I--I stuck to my point. I said I must and would have another
opinion."

"Another?"

"Yours, of course. There's nobody else to be got at immediately. And
after what you--what we both said and thought this afternoon, I won't
wait till another doctor can be fetched from a distance."

"Well start at once," said Isaacson, in a practical voice.

"Yes."

But the assent was very hesitating, and Hartley made no movement.
Isaacson looked at him with sharply questioning eyes.

"I--I wish I was out of the case altogether," said the young man,
weakly. "After this afternoon's row I seem to have lost all heart. I
never have had such an unpleasant scene with any woman before. It makes
the position extremely difficult. I don't know how she will receive us;
I really don't. She never agreed to my proposition, and I left her
looking dreadful."

"Mrs. Armine hates me. It's a pity. But I've got to think of the sick
man. And so have you. Look here, Doctor Hartley, you and I have got over
our little disagreement of this morning, and I hope we can be
colleagues."

"I wish nothing better indeed," said the young man, earnestly.

"We'll go back to the _Loulia_. We'll see the patient. We'll have our
consultation. And then if you still wish to get out of the case--"

"Really, I think I'd much rather. I've got friends waiting for me at
Assouan."

"And I've got nobody waiting for me. Suppose the patient agrees, and you
continue in the same mind, I'm willing to relieve you of all
responsibility and take the whole thing into my own hands. And if at any
time you come to London--"

"I may be coming this summer."

"Then I think I can be of use to you there. Shall we go?"

This time Doctor Hartley did move.