The Doctor

           AsCarmillawouldnothearofanattendantsleepinginherroom,myfatherarrangedthataservantshouldsleepoutsideherdoor,sothatshewouldnotattempttomakeanothersuchexcursionwithoutbeingarrestedatherowndoor.

           Thatnightpassedquietly;andnextmorningearly,thedoctor,whommyfatherhadsentforwithouttellingmeawordaboutit,arrivedtoseeme.

           Madameaccompaniedmetothelibrary;andtherethegravelittledoctor,withwhitehairandspectacles,whomImentionedbefore,waswaitingtoreceiveme.

           Itoldhimmystory,andasIproceededhegrewgraverandgraver.

           Wewerestanding,heandI,intherecessofoneofthewindows,facingoneanother.Whenmystatementwasover,heleanedwithhisshouldersagainstthewall,andwithhiseyesfixedonmeearnestly,withaninterestinwhichwasadashofhorror.

           Afteraminute’sreflection,heaskedMadameifhecouldseemyfather.

           Hewassentforaccordingly,andasheentered,smiling,hesaid:

           "Idaresay,doctor,youaregoingtotellmethatIamanoldfoolforhavingbroughtyouhere;IhopeIam."

           Buthissmilefadedintoshadowasthedoctor,withaverygraveface,beckonedhimtohim.

           HeandthedoctortalkedforsometimeinthesamerecesswhereIhadjustconferredwiththephysician.Itseemedanearnestandargumentativeconversation.Theroomisverylarge,andIandMadamestoodtogether,burningwithcuriosity,atthefartherend.