must have your friend; it's a good
sound case."

The Major read the title-page in a superior manner. It purported to be
by a James Whitty, and the name was followed by a series of distinctions
and of the initials, which I have forgotten. F.R.S. were the first.

"My name," said the doctor.

The Major handed the book back with a bow.

"I am proud to make your acquaintance, Dr. Whitty. I have heard of you.
May I present Mrs. Trustcott?"

Gertie looked confused. The doctor made a stiff obeisance. Then his face
became animated again.

"We must move your friend upstairs," he said. "If you will help, Mr.
Trustcott, I will call my servant."

(III)

It was about half-past nine that night that the doctor, having rung the
bell in the spare bedroom, met his man at the threshold.

"I'll sleep in this room to-night," he said; "you can go to bed. Bring
in a mattress, will you?"

The man looked at his master's face. (He looked queer-like, reported
Thomas later to his wife.)

"Hope the young man's doing well, sir?"

A spasm went over the doctor's face.

"Most extraordinary young man in the world," he said.... Then he broke
off. "Bring the mattress at once, Thomas. Then you can go to bed."

He went back and closed the door.

* * * * *

Thomas had seldom seen his master so perturbed over a human being
before. He wondered what on earth was the matter. During the few minutes
that he was in the room he looked at the patient curiously, and he
noticed that the doctor was continually looking at him too. Thomas
described to me Frank's appearance. He was very much flushed, he said,
with very bright eyes, and he was talking incessantly. And it was
evidently this delirious talking that had upset the doctor. I tried to
get out of Doctor Whitty what it was that Frank had actually said, but
the doctor shut up his face tight and would say nothing. Thomas was more
communicative, though far from adequate.

It was about religion, he said, that Frank was talking--about
religion.... And that was really about all that he could say of that
incident.

Thomas awoke about one o'clock that night, and, still with the
uneasiness that he had had earlier in the evening, climbed out of bed
without disturbing his wife, put on his slippers and great-coat and made
his way down the attic stairs. The October moon was up, and, shining
through the staircase window, showed him the door of the spare bedroom
with a line