."

"He is really very difficult," went on the old lady confidentially.
"Between ourselves, I don't know what my sister-in-law is going to
think of his behaving in this way, refusing to take the doctor's
advice. She's doing all she can for the boy, and if he continues as he
is doing he is almost sure to offend her. She's extremely sensitive!"

Esther was silent, hoping Roger would follow her advice about the
nursing-home.

"Well, au revoir, my dear! I'm very sorry indeed, and I shall miss
you. I shall never forget how kind you were to my brother."

Her brown eyes filled with tears as she kissed Esther's cheek.

There was no sign of the doctor when Esther slowly descended to the
entrance hall. She would have liked to slip away by herself, but it
was too late, Chalmers had just placed her luggage on the back of the
doctor's car; she met him coming back. Moreover, she had intended to
stop at the chemist's on her way down; now of course she dared not do
it. What Miss Clifford had said about Roger's symptoms and the
dreadful uncertainty had intensified all her vague fears, so that
suddenly she felt she must end the suspense at once--if possible,
before she quitted the house. Who could say what might happen once she
got away?

Was there anything she could do? It would be late, perhaps too late
before she would have a chance of reaching the chemist; the shop might
be closed. Her eye fell on the little cloak-room at the back of the
stairs, where the telephone was kept. Of course--she had a minute to
spare now. What was to prevent her telephoning? The chemist spoke
English--she could make him understand.

She cast a swift glance around; there was no one in sight. Then she
slipped into the little room and rapidly searched in the telephone book
for the name--Cailler, it was; she remembered because it was the name
of a milk chocolate. Ah, here it was! With gratifying dispatch she
got the connection, heard a voice which she recognised as belonging
with the curly blond beard.

"_Allo, allo! Oui, c'est bien_--ah, yes, it is the Pharmacie Cailler,
yes, yes.... What is it you say? I do not understand ... report?
Report of what? ... Needle? Hypodermic needle? ... But yes, yes,
mademoiselle, it has been sent already to your address; it came this
afternoon, so we have sent it to you."

"Sent it! But I haven't received it. Are you quite sure?"

"But yes, certainly, one hour ago, to Mademoiselle Rowe, the