ll not
wake him."

He stepped into the passage, his attitude one of uncompromising
determination.

Aubrey Treherne opened the door of Ronnie's room. It was in darkness. He
stepped back into the passage, lighted a candle, handed it to Dick
Cameron, and they entered quietly together.

Ronnie lay on his back, sleeping heavily. His eyes were partly open, his
face flushed, his breathing rapid. One arm was flung out toward a chair
beside the bed, on which lay his pocket-book, his watch, and a small
leather miniature-case containing a portrait of Helen. This lay open
upon the watch, having evidently fallen from his fingers. A candle had
burned down into the socket, and spluttered itself out.

Dick picked up the miniature, held it close to the light of his own
candle, and examined it critically.

"He certainly went in for beauty," he remarked in a low voice to Aubrey
Treherne, as he laid the miniature beside the pocket-book. "Of course
Ronnie would. But it is also a noble face--a face one could altogether
trust. Ronnie will be in safe hands when once you get him home."

Aubrey's smile, in the flare of the candle, was the grin of a hungry
wolf. He made no reply.

Dr. Dick, watch in hand, stood silently beside the bed, counting the
rapid respiration of his friend. Then he turned, took up an empty
tumbler from the table behind him, smelt it, and looked at Aubrey
Treherne.

"I thought so," he said. "You meant well, no doubt. But don't do it
again. Drugs to produce sleep may occasionally be necessary, but should
only be given under careful medical supervision. Personally, I am
inclined to think that any sort of artificial sleep does more harm to a
delicately poised brain, than insomnia. However, opinions differ. But
there is no question that your experiment of to-night must not be
repeated. I have given him stuff to take during his homeward journey
which will tend to calm him, lessen the fever, and clear his mind. See
that he takes it."

Young Dick Cameron walked out of Ronnie's room, blew out the candle he
carried, and replaced the candlestick on a little ornamental bracket.

Aubrey followed, inwardly fuming.

If Dick had been at the top of the tree, the first opinion procurable
from Harley Street, W., his manner could hardly have been more
authoritative, his instructions more peremptory.

"Upstart!" said Aubrey to himself. "Insolent Jackanapes!"

When Dick Cameron reached the outer door his cap was on the back of