hing medicine calmed him in a few minutes, and the leech himself
could presently wash the wound and apply a fresh dressing with the
practised aid of the Sister.

Meanwhile the crazy girl had been waked by the ravings of the Persian,
and was anxiously enquiring if the dog--the dreadful dog--was there. But
she soon allowed herself to be quieted by Paula, and she answered the
questions put to her so rationally and gently, that her nurse called the
physician who could confirm Paula in her hope that a favorable change
had taker place in her mental condition. Her words were melancholy and
mild; and when Paula remarked on this Philippus observed:

"It is on the bed of sickness that we learn to know our
fellow-creatures. The frantic girl, who perhaps fell on the son of this
house with murderous intent, now reveals her true, sweet nature. And as
for that poor fellow, he is a powerful creature, an honest one too; I
would stake my ten fingers on it!"

"What makes you so sure of that?"

"Even in his delirium he did hot once scratch or bite, but only defended
himself like a man.--Thank you, now, for your assistance. If you had
not flung the cord round his hands, the game might have ended very
differently."

"Surely not!" exclaimed Paula decidedly. "How strong you are, Philip. I
feel quite alarmed!"

"You?" said the leech laughing. "On the contrary, you need never be
alarmed again now that you have seen by chance that your champion is no
weakling.--Pfooh! I shall be glad now of a little rest." She offered
him her handkerchief, and while he thankfully used it to wipe his
brow--controlling with much difficulty the impulse to press it to his
lips, he added lightly:

"With such an assistant everything must go well. There is no merit in
being strong; every one can be strong who comes into the world with
healthy blood and well-knit bones, who keeps all his limbs well
exercised, as I did in my youth, and who does not destroy his
inheritance by dissipated living.--However, I still feel the struggle in
my hands; but there is some good wine in the next room yet, and two or
three cups of it will do me good." They went together into the adjoining
room where, by this time, most of the lamps were extinguished. Paula
poured out the wine, touched the goblet with her lips, and he emptied it
at a draught; but he was not to be allowed to drink off a second, for he
had scarcely raised it, when they heard voices in the Masdakite's room,
and Nefo