bsurdly hysterical condition,' he said, holding her hand.
'You've been quite angelic. I knew that nothing could be done, and yet I
was tormented with the desire to do something. Now I've got myself in
hand once more. I think my common sense was deserting me, and I was on
the point of believing in the farrago of nonsense which they call magic.
After all, it's absurd to think that Haddo is going to do any harm to
Margaret. As soon at I get back to London, I'll see my lawyers, and I
daresay something can be done. If he's really mad, we'll have to put him
under restraint, and Margaret will be free. I shall never forget your
kindness.'

Susie smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

She was convinced that he would forget everything if Margaret came back
to him. But she chid herself for the bitterness of the thought. She loved
him, and she was glad to be able to do anything for him.

She returned to the hotel, changed her frock, and walked slowly to the
Chien Noir. It always exhilarated her to come back to Paris; and she
looked with happy, affectionate eyes at the plane trees, the yellow trams
that rumbled along incessantly, and the lounging people. When she
arrived, Dr Porhoet was waiting, and his delight at seeing her again was
flattering and pleasant. They talked of Arthur. They wondered why he was
late.

In a moment he came in. They saw at once that something quite
extraordinary had taken place.

'Thank God, I've found you at last!' he cried.

His face was moving strangely. They had never seen him so discomposed.

'I've been round to your hotel, but I just missed you. Oh, why did you
insist on my going away?'

'What on earth's the matter?' cried Susie.

'Something awful has happened to Margaret.'

Susie started to her feet with a sudden cry of dismay.

'How do you know?' she asked quickly.

He looked at them for a moment and flushed. He kept his eyes upon them,
as though actually to force his listeners into believing what he was
about to say.

'I feel it,' he answered hoarsely.

'What do you mean?'

'It came upon me quite suddenly, I can't explain why or how. I only know
that something has happened.'

He began again to walk up and down, prey to an agitation that was
frightful to behold. Susie and Dr Porhoet stared at him helplessly. They
tried to think of something to say that would calm him.

'Surely if anything had occurred, we should have been informed.'

He turned to Susie angrily.

'How do you sup