se he noticed two girls upon the steps.

They were interrogating the butler.

Observing his arrival they cut their inquiries short. The prelate
emerged, however, in time to hear the servant's concluding words.

"No, madam. Only that the improvement was maintained. Thank you,
madam."

"Who's ill?" cried Forest sharply.

The butler inclined his head.

"Major Lyveden, sir--a friend of Miss Valerie's. He----"

"_Who?_"

For all his training the servant jumped.

"Major Lyveden, sir. Major Anthony Lyveden."

Monseigneur Forest looked round helplessly. Then he put a hand to his
head and sat down on the steps.

CHAPTER IX

VANITY OF VANITIES

In a quiet, even tone Lyveden was talking.

The pleasant voice went steadily on, now reciting, now commenting, now
lending argument, a cool dispassionate gravity that forced the ear.
Facts were so clearly stated, conclusions so reasonably drawn, points
so firmly made--all without a trace of emotion, yet seriously offered
in the most conspicuous good faith--that it was almost impossible to
realize that the speaker was insensible. But that is the way of
brain-fever....

The voice faltered and stopped.

Fervently Miss French prayed that it and the frantic brain might rest
from their labours. She wanted desperately to think--to be mistress of
her thoughts--but, so long as the voice prevailed, the impression that
she was being addressed prevented her, first because it was so vivid,
and then because of its importunity.

It was half an hour since Sir Willoughby Sperm's car had rolled down
the curling avenue and slipped past the tall lodge-gates. If all went
well, another fortnight would elapse before the great specialist saw
the patient again.

The silence continuing, Valerie fell to wondering what the two weeks
would bring forth. That the fever would presently abate, and the
ex-officer be spared his life, seemed highly probable. In fact,
Valerie steadily refused to consider that he might weaken and die.
What she was eternally asking was what would happen when the engine of
the brain, at present running free, was once more engaged with the
system it was used to control. Would the coupling break suddenly, and
her man go an idiot for life? That she could not believe. Or would
the old balance be restored, perfect as ever? There was doubt in the
doctor's eyes. Was he, then, to wake stumbling upon that No Man's Land
which lies between sense and idiocy? A