wanted after what has happened. But I don't like leaving you alone
to handle things, sir."

"We'll all go too, Chalmers, my aunt and I and Miss Rowe, if she's fit
to be moved. You will come with us to an hotel for the present. I'm
not going to bed at all to-night, I'm going to keep watch over Miss
Rowe. If her story is true, Sartorius may try to get at her again; she
mustn't be left."

"I shall keep about, too, sir, to know what goes on in this house."

"Right, Chalmers, it's a good idea. By the way, we'll keep as much as
we can from my aunt, there's no good alarming her. I'll go now and
inquire about Miss Rowe."

"_Je demands pardon, monsieur!_"

He jumped as the sardonic voice of Aline sounded in his ear, and the
woman, with a covert glance of mock-servility, hurried past him with
the empty tray. There were both malice and triumph in her bearing.
Whether she knew anything or not--and it seemed impossible that she
could surmise their suspicions--her manner conveyed unmistakably that
she knew her mistress had scored a victory. A sudden misgiving swept
over Roger. Supposing the hideous affair to be true, was it not
extremely doubtful that they would ever be able to prove it? Might
they not go on to the end of their days not knowing?

He crossed the hall and went along the passage to Esther's room. As he
gently opened the door an odour of drugs or disinfectants met his
nostrils, giving him a sinking feeling he had often experienced as a
small boy on entering a dentist's room.

The little doctor was bending over the bed. From the other side Miss
Clifford raised a white and tired face. Roger felt suddenly oppressed
by fear. What were they going to tell him? He motioned to his aunt,
who came towards him and answered the question he was afraid to utter.

"The doctor hasn't been able to bring her around, Roger, though he's
done all he can. It's nearly an hour and a half, now, and she is still
unconscious."

CHAPTER XXXVI

It was nearly midnight when Dr. Bousquet at last took his departure.
An hour before that time Esther became conscious, but was so utterly
weak he would not allow her to speak or make the smallest effort of any
kind. She made no comment on finding herself back in her old quarters,
and after a short interval drifted back into a natural sleep. The
watchers felt a degree of relief.

"I think I may safely leave her now, monsieur," said the doctor,
drawing on his gloves. "I wi