which was still closed. A few passers-by had
gathered together and stared and waited for a few minutes, but had
finally lost interest and melted away. A human thoroughfare, this,
indeed, one of the pulses of the great city beating time night and
day to the tragedies of life. The chemist's assistant, with impassive
features, was serving a couple of casual customers from behind the
counter. Only a few yards away, beyond the closed door, the chemist
himself and a hastily summoned doctor fought with Death for the body of
the girl who lay upon the floor, faint moans coming every now and then
from her blue lips.

Tavernake, whose forced inaction during that terrible struggle had
become a burden to him, slipped softly from the room as soon as the
doctor had whispered that the acute crisis was over, and passed
through the shop out into the street, a solemn, dazed figure among the
light-hearted crowd. Even in those grim moments, the man's individualism
spoke up to him. He was puzzled at his own action, He asked himself
a question--not, indeed, with regret, but with something more than
curiosity and actual selfprobing--as though, by concentrating his mind
upon his recent course of action, he would be able to understand the
motives which had influenced him. Why had he chosen to burden himself
with the care of this desperate young woman? Supposing she lived, what
was to become of her? He had acquired a certain definite responsibility
with regard to her future, for whatever the doctor and his assistant
might do, it was his own promptitude and presence of mind which had
given her the first chance of life. Without a doubt, he had behaved
foolishly. Why not vanish into the crowd and have done with it? What was
it to him, after all, whether this girl lived or died? He had done his
duty--more than his duty. Why not disappear now and let her take her
chance? His common sense spoke to him loudly; such thoughts as these
beat upon his brain.

Just for once in his life, however, his common sense exercised an
altogether subordinate position. He knew very well, even while he
listened to these voices, that he was only counting the minutes until he
could return. Having absolutely decided that the only reasonable course
left for him to pursue was to return home and leave the girl to her
fate, he found himself back inside the shop within a quarter of an hour.
The chemist had just come out from the inner room, and looked up at his
entrance.

"S