Do you wish me to arrange his removal?"

"Oh, please."

"Very well. Have you a closed car?"

"Yes."

"Any brothers?"

Valerie shook her head.

"Why, doctor?"

"Because," said Heron, "he will resist. It doesn't matter."

"I've two friends who will help me."

"Young strong men?"

Valerie shivered.

"Yes."

"Can you trust your chauffeur?"

"Implicitly."

"Good. Now let's see." He turned the page of a diary and then
returned it. "To-morrow's Tuesday. I don't want to waste any time,
but we can't rush things. Please have a room at Bell Hammer ready on
Friday. I'll arrange for two nurses to go to you that afternoon. I
shall go back to Girdle to-morrow evening. I hope I shall want your
two friends and the chauffeur with the car during the week-end, but I
may have to wait. In any event, I shall wire to you at Bell Hammer,
giving them twenty-four hours' notice and telling them where to come.
Please tell the chauffeur to have enough petrol and spares to go from
Girdle to Hampshire without a break."

"Is that everything?" said Valerie.

"Almost. There's just this. We ought to arrive by night; but I want
you to leave all instructions and go to bed."

"I can't do that, doctor. I'll promise not to appear, until you send
for me, but----"

"That'll do. That's what I want. Don't think I'm being professional.
Remember, I've taken Sperm at his word, and spoken more frankly to you
than ever I've done in my life."

"I'm more than content," said Valerie. "You and Sir Willoughby have
been just wonderful."

"That's the epithet he and I keep for you, Miss French." They rose and
shook hands. "And since of your amazing self-control you've asked no
questions, I'll make you a present of an answer. In my opinion, he
will recover completely."

Valerie caught her breath sharply, began to tremble violently, and then
burst into tears.

* * * * *

Order means much to me, gentlemen. Indeed, I believe in the dame. To
fall foul of her ruling does not like me at all. Unless, however, I am
to play the diarist, there are times when I have no choice but to
retrace my steps. This is one of them. Four windy days must be
clapped back on to the hasty calendar--four days, sirs, of which three
do not matter, while the fourth, or first--whichever way you look at
it--concerns us mightily. In a word, it was upon the eleventh day of
March that poor Mr. Slumper was also among the prophets