electric fire, Sebastian held me back with a
bent motion of his shrivelled forefinger. I stayed behind unwillingly.
"Yes, sir?" I said, in an interrogative voice.

The Professor's eyes were fixed intently on the ceiling. His look was
one of rapt inspiration. I stood and waited. "Cumberledge," he said at
last, coming back to earth with a start, "I see it more plainly each day
that goes. We must get rid of that woman."

"Of Nurse Wade?" I asked, catching my breath.

He roped the grizzled moustache, and blinked the sunken eyes. "She has
lost nerve," he went on, "lost nerve entirely. I shall suggest that she
be dismissed. Her sudden failures of stamina are most embarrassing at
critical junctures."

"Very well, sir," I answered, swallowing a lump in my throat. To say the
truth, I was beginning to be afraid on Hilda's account. That morning's
events had thoroughly disquieted me.

He seemed relieved at my unquestioning acquiescence. "She is a dangerous
edged-tool; that's the truth of it," he went on, still twirling his
moustache with a preoccupied air, and turning over his stock of
needles. "When she's clothed and in her right mind, she is a valuable
accessory--sharp and trenchant like a clean, bright lancet; but when she
allows one of these causeless hysterical fits to override her tone, she
plays one false at once--like a lancet that slips, or grows dull
and rusty." He polished one of the needles on a soft square of new
chamois-leather while he spoke, as if to give point and illustration to
his simile.

I went out from him, much perturbed. The Sebastian I had once admired
and worshipped was beginning to pass from me; in his place I found a
very complex and inferior creation. My idol had feet of clay. I was loth
to acknowledge it.

I stalked along the corridor moodily towards my own room. As I passed
Hilda Wade's door, I saw it half ajar. She stood a little within, and
beckoned me to enter.

I passed in and closed the door behind me. Hilda looked at me with
trustful eyes. Resolute still, her face was yet that of a hunted
creature. "Thank Heaven, I have ONE friend here, at least!" she said,
slowly seating herself. "You saw me catch and conceal the needle?"

"Yes, I saw you."

She drew it forth from her purse, carefully but loosely wrapped up in a
small tag of tissue-paper. "Here it is!" she said, displaying it. "Now,
I want you to test it."

"In a culture?" I asked; for I guessed her meaning.

She nodded. "Yes,