If so, she couldn't imagine what it was. He said nothing,
but presently followed her into the bathroom when she went there to
replace the enamelled basin she had used for Roger's hand.

"Oh, Miss Rowe!" he said, speaking casually enough, yet with a
sub-current of something indefinable which made her turn and look at
him.

"Yes, doctor?"

He had the hypodermic case open in his hand.

"What have you done with that needle I was using just now?"

She wrinkled her brow for a moment.

"The needle?" she repeated, and gazed at him blankly.

CHAPTER XXIII

It took her a moment to collect her thoughts.

"Oh, the needle! Did I have it?"

"Certainly. I handed it to you as I usually do."

She rubbed her forehead in the effort to recall.

"Did you?" she murmured in perplexity. "I don't remember."

"But I remember. I want to replace it. What have you done with it?"

Her memory was a complete void; the business of Roger's thumb had
routed everything else.

"Are you quite sure----" she faltered.

"Sure!" he repeated sharply, and with a gesture of annoyance. "I tell
you you had it in your hand when you bolted out of the room. There is
no question about it."

"Then I must have laid it down somewhere. I'll look for it in just a
moment."

She was washing the basin at the bath.

"You'll look now."

She glanced quickly at him, amazed at his peremptory manner. Never
before had any doctor spoken to her in that fashion. Besides, how
could he be angry over such a trifle?

"Certainly, doctor."

She spoke calmly, hiding her wounded dignity, and without more ado
hastened back to the boudoir, now empty. Where could she have put the
wretched thing? It was true she had had it in her hand, she
recollected that much now, but nothing more. She made a thorough
search, disagreeably aware that the doctor kept coming to the doorway
and watching her.

"There's no sign of it here, doctor. I'll look in my bedroom. I went
there to get my first-aid."

"Do so."

She would rather not have done so when addressed in that manner. The
blood rushed to her cheeks, but she stifled her resentment and
continued to search in every likely and unlikely place. It couldn't be
lost, that was impossible. Yet in ten minutes she returned
empty-handed.

"I'm so sorry, doctor. I've looked everywhere. It's simply
disappeared."

"Disappeared!"

There was no describing the sudden look of rage with which he turned on
her.