n crying about it," he said, quietly. "It would be more
to the purpose, Valeria, if you thanked God that you have got out of
that room safe and sound. Come with me."

He took the key out of the lock, and led me downstairs into the hall.
After a little consideration, he opened the front door of the house. The
gardener was still quietly at work in the grounds.

"Your master is taken ill," Benjamin said; "and the woman who attends
upon him has lost her head--if she ever had a head to lose. Where does
the nearest doctor live?"

The man's devotion to Dexter showed itself as the woman's devotion had
shown itself--in the man's rough way. He threw down his spade with an
oath.

"The Master taken bad?" he said. "I'll fetch the doctor. I shall find
him sooner than you will."

"Tell the doctor to bring a man with him," Benjamin added. "He may want
help."

The gardener turned around sternly.

"_I'm_ the man," he said. "Nobody shall help but me."

He left us. I sat down on one of the chairs in the hall, and did my best
to compose myself. Benjamin walked to and fro, deep in thought. "Both of
them fond of him," I heard my old friend say to himself. "Half monkey,
half man--and both of them fond of him. _That_ beats me."

The gardener returned with the doctor--a quiet, dark, resolute man.
Benjamin advanced to meet them. "I have got the key," he said. "Shall I
go upstairs with you?"

Without answering, the doctor drew Benjamin aside into a corner of the
hall. The two talked together in low voices. At the end of it the doctor
said, "Give me the key. You can be of no use; you will only irritate
her."

With those words he beckoned to the gardener. He was about to lead the
way up the stairs when I ventured to stop him.

"May I stay in the hall, sir?" I said. "I am very anxious to hear how it
ends."

He looked at me for a moment before he replied.

"You had better go home, madam," he said. "Is the gardener acquainted
with your address?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well. I will let you know how it ends by means of the gardener.
Take my advice. Go home."

Benjamin placed my arm in his. I looked back, and saw the doctor and
the gardener ascending the stairs together on their way to the locked-up
room.

"Never mind the doctor," I whispered. "Let's wait in the garden."

Benjamin would not hear of deceiving the doctor. "I mean to take you
home," he said. I looked at him in amazement. My old friend, who was all
meekness and submiss