Treherne--very tall, very grave, very determined.

"You quite understand, sir, that if you were not yourself taking Ronnie
home, I should do so? And if, by any chance, you are prevented from
going, just let me know, and I can be packed and ready to start home
with him in a quarter of an hour."

"Very good of you," said Aubrey, "but all our plans are made. We reach
the Hague to-morrow night. He requires a day there for making his
translation and publishing arrangements. So we sleep at the Hague
to-morrow, crossing by the Hook of Holland on the following evening. I
have wired to the Hotel des Indes for a suite. I feel sure my cousin
would wish him to have the best of everything, and to be absolutely
comfortable and quiet. At the Hotel des Indes they have an excellent
orchestra, and a particularly fine 'cellist. West will enjoy showing him
the Infant. They can compare babies! It will keep him amused and
interested all the evening."

"Good idea," agreed Dr. Dick. "But Ronnie need not come down on his wife
for his hotel expenses! He is making a pot of money himself, now. You
will be careful to report to Mrs. West exactly what I have said of his
condition?"

"I will write immediately. As we stay a night _en route_, and another is
taken up in crossing, my cousin should receive my letter twenty-four
hours before our arrival."

"Impress upon her," said Dr. Dick, earnestly, "how dangerous any mental
shock might be."

"Do you fear brain fever?" questioned Aubrey.

Dick laughed. "Brain fever is a popular fiction," he said. "It is not a
term admitted by the faculty. If you mean meningitis--no, I trust not.
But probably temporary loss of memory, and a complete upsetting of
mental control; with a possible impairing, for a considerable time, of
his brilliant mental powers."

"In other words, my cousin's husband is threatened with insanity."

"Lor, no!" exclaimed Dick, with vehemence. "How easily you good people
hand a fellow-creature over to that darkest of all fates! Ronnie's
condition is brought about by temporary circumstances which are not in
the least likely to have permanent results. He has always had the
eccentricity of genius; but, since his genius has been recognised,
people have ceased to consider him eccentric. Now I must be off. But I
will see him first. Will you show me his room?" "He is asleep,"
objected Aubrey. "Is it not a pity to disturb him?"

"I doubt his being asleep," replied Dick. "But if he is, we sha