s he discharged
one of his patients, cured, only this morning. If you propose to remain
at his house for treatment, which would be the only satisfactory way, I
would suggest that you drive around by way of your hotel and arrange to
have your baggage sent at once. I have written the address, and a few
words to the doctor, on this card. Any of the cab drivers will know it,
of course. Dr. Hartmann is one of the most prominent men in Brussels. I
wish you good luck in your stay at his place, and whenever you are in
the city, come in and have luncheon. Mrs. Phelps will be delighted." He
led the way to the door, and ushered the girl into her cab. "Glad I was
able to be of service to you," he said, as she drove off.
"Good-evening."

When Grace entered the office of Dr. Hartmann, she was quite conscious
of the fact that it would not be necessary for her to pretend to be
nervous. In fact she felt herself turning hot and cold with fear, and
wondered whether she would have the courage to play the part which had
been so unexpectedly thrust upon her.

The place itself was pleasant and attractive enough in appearance. It
consisted of a large stone building, with a mansard roof, set back some
hundred or more yards from the street, and surrounded by a small park,
filled with trees and shrubbery. A well-kept gravel driveway lead from
the gate to the main entrance, which opened into a large hall. She
observed as she came in, a sort of parlor, or reception-room, to the
right, handsomely furnished in rather an old-fashioned style, with a
large marble mantel and fireplace at one end of it. In the latter a
blaze of cannel coal lit up the room with a pleasant radiance. It was
not yet dark without, and the lights in the reception room were unlit,
although a lamp was burning in the hall.

The maid who admitted her, a pleasant-faced German woman of middle age,
conducted her into the reception-room, and taking her card, disappeared
down the hall. In a few moments she returned, and nodding to Grace,
opened a door at the left of the hall and bade her enter.

She found herself in the doctor's office, a large room, furnished in
leather. A table in the center contained a lamp, and many magazines and
papers. There was no one in the room when she entered, but before she
had time to select a chair, a door at the rear of the room opened, and
Dr. Hartmann came in.

He was a man of powerful build, and gave one the impression of great
size, although not