--that there was something queer
about it, that after a few treatments I was afraid to carry on any more
and refused to do so? She really has dermatitis and nervous prostration,
exactly as she alleges in her complaint. But, before Heaven, Kennedy,
I can't see how she could possibly have been so affected by the few
treatments I gave her. And to-night, just as I was leaving the office,
I received a telephone call from her husband's attorney, Lawrence, very
kindly informing me that the case would be pushed to the limit. I tell
you, it looks black for me."

"What can they do?"

"Do? Do you suppose any jury is going to take enough expert testimony
to outweigh the tragedy of a beautiful woman? Do? Why, they can ruin
me, even if I get a verdict of acquittal. They can leave me with
a reputation for carelessness that no mere court decision can ever
overcome."

"Gregory, you can rely on me," said Kennedy. "Anything I can do to help
you I will gladly do. Jameson and I were on the point of going out to
dinner. Join us, and after that we will go down to your office and talk
things over."

"You are really too kind," murmured the doctor. The air of relief that
was written on his face was pathetically eloquent.

"Now not a word about the case till we have had dinner," commanded
Craig. "I see very plainly that you have been worrying about the blow
for a long time. Well, it has fallen. The neat thing to do is to look
over the situation and see where we stand."

Dinner over, we rode down-town in the subway, and Gregory ushered us
into an office-building on Madison Avenue, where he had a very handsome
suite of several rooms. We sat own in his waiting-room to discuss the
affair.

"It is indeed a very tragic case," began Kennedy, "almost more tragic
than if the victim had been killed outright. Mrs. Huntington Close
is--or rather I suppose I should say was--one of the famous beauties
of the city. From what the paper says, her beauty has been hopelessly
ruined by this dermatitis, which, I understand, Doctor, is practically
incurable."

Dr. Gregory nodded, and I could not help following his eyes as he looked
at his own rough and scarred hands.

"Also," continued Craig, with his eyes half closed and his finger-tips
together, as if, he were taking a mental inventory of the facts in the
case, "her nerves are so shattered that she will be years in recovering,
if she ever recovers."

"Yes," said the doctor simply. "I myself, for instan