t
uninvited, and drew off his gloves with deliberate slowness.

"Just a few words before I go." Fixing her with his penetrating black
eyes, he went on: "You know, your case interests me--so much----"

"My case?" echoed Paula, coldly elevating her eyebrows as if not
comprehending his meaning.

He nodded.

"When I first saw you the day of that unfortunate accident I said to
myself----"

He stopped and shook his head ominously. Then, after a pause, he
continued:

"I said to myself, she's a fine, highly strung girl, who needs care and
attention, and, above all--rest--rest. Yes, your brain needs rest. It is
over-worked--you think too much--the wheels go round too fast."

"Yes?" said Paula, trying to curb her growing impatience.

The doctor smiled.

"You don't mind my sitting down, do you?" he asked.

"Not in the least--if you wish to," she replied curtly, without making a
move to take a seat herself.

He sat in silence, watching her stealthily.

"Won't you sit down, too?" he said. "We will talk a little."

She shook her head decisively.

"No--I--I can't talk to you. I had fully made up my mind never to see
you again. I'll be perfectly frank, Dr. Zacharie, you have a disquieting
effect on me."

He smiled again, a cynical, horrible smile, which made her shudder.

"That is because I tell you the truth," he said, blinking his eyes. "You
don't like to hear about your state of mind."

"No. For I don't believe what you say," she retorted hotly. "My
health--my mind--is as clear as yours. I am only tired. I'm weary to
death of this awful lawsuit. I am compelled to stay in-doors, to keep my
door locked so that they shan't serve me with any one of those dreadful
papers summoning me to appear, to answer, to show cause, to answer
endless questions. Even when you knocked just now my heart began to
beat."

He shrugged his shoulders as if the symptoms she described confirmed
only too well his diagnosis.

"You see," he cried, "you are all nerves! There is great danger
there--hidden dangers that only we men of science can see."

Starting involuntarily, she exclaimed apprehensively:

"Hidden danger! What do you mean? Why do you tell me these things? Do
you think it does me any good to hear them? Last time you were here,
doctor, I asked you not to call again. I told you I needed no further
professional advice. I am perfectly well--and strong--and--and--and----"

She stopped and stared at him, as if struck with a new