regular thing, the thing that deals hardly with an individual in the
name of some highly nebulous general principle."

"Like discipline?" she put in, with a reminiscence of
Major-General Punnit.

He nodded. "Yes, that's one case of it. And then, the situation amused
me. I think that had more to do with it than anything else at first. It
amused me to play up to his delusions. I suggested the shawl as useful on
our walks--and thereby got him to take wholesome exercise; that ought to
appeal to you, Doctor! I got him the combination knife-and-fork; that
made him enjoy his meals--also good for him, Doctor! But I didn't do
these things because they were good for him, but because they amused me.
They never amused Hooper, he's a dull, surly, and--I'm inclined to
believe--treacherous dog."

"Who is he?"

"Sacked from the Army--sent to quod. Just a jail-bird whom I've kept
loose. But the things did amuse me, and it was that at first. But
then--" he paused.

Looking at him again, Mary saw a whimsical tenderness expressed in his
eyes and smile. "The poor chap was so overwhelmingly grateful. He thought
me the one indubitably faithful adherent that he had. And so I was
too--though not in the way he thought. And he trusted me absolutely.
Well, was I to give him up--to the law, and the Radbolts, and the jailers
of an asylum--a man who trusted me like that?"

"But he was mad," objected Doctor Mary obstinately.

"A man has his feelings, or may have, even when he's mad. He trusted me
and he loved me, Doctor Mary. Won't you allow that I've my case--so far?"
She made no sign of assent. "Well then, I loved him--does that go any
better with you? If it doesn't, I'm in a bad way; be cause what I'm
giving you now is the strong part of my case."

"I don't see why you should put what you call your case to me at all, Mr.
Beaumaroy."

He looked at her in a reproachful astonishment. "But you seemed touched
by--by what we saw in the Tower. I thought the old man's death and
faith had appealed to you. It seems to me that people can't go through
a thing like that together without feeling--well, some sort of
comradeship. But if you've no sort of feeling of that kind--well, I
don't want to put my case."

"Go on with your case," said Doctor Mary, after a moment's silence.

"Though it isn't really that I want to put a case for myself at all. But
I don't mind owning that I'd like you to understand about it--before I
clear out."

She looked at