half-whisper—but Margaret heard—" Macquet
—she wishes him to be sent for again."

"Very good, SÅ“ur Rosalie," the doctor
said, quickly. " Send for him. Now,
madame, you will excuse me? I must go my
rounds."

There was a quick intelligence in her eye. She
had a few more questions to ask—much about
the system. This bait he could not resist, for
he was an honest enthusiast, and proud of his
profession and discoveries.

"But, now, about the sick?" said Margaret,
craftily. " You can do nothing with them?
Tor the bodily ailment, combined with the
psychological—"

"Can't I?" said the doctor, triumphantly.
"Why, I have here an instance to the contrary.
I could show you a case that I have had here
for years, whom we thought ill and dying many
times. Why, sickness seems to be almost a
means of cure for mental illness. The nearer
she seemed to her end, the more rational she
became. I have a theory based on this,
which will amaze the world one of these days.
At this moment she is very ill, and yet has
quite, you may say, recovered mentally."

"And you do not think she will die?"
said Margaret, excitedly. " Where is your
skill?"

The doctor looked astonished for a moment,
then seemed pleased at the rare interest taken
in him and his system.

"I wonder," he said, abstractedly, " would
there be any harm in letting you see her?
Really I don't see—"

"Oh, I should so wish it," said Margaret.
At that moment they heard the great bell
clang.

"Ah! Impossible now," said the doctor.
"In fact, you will excuse me. I have to meet
some one."

"Why, who is this—is this her husband?" said
Margaret, abruptly.

The doctor started, and looked into her face
with wonder and alarm.

"What do you mean?" he said. "What do
you know? Ah, I begin to see."

Margaret hurriedly closed the door, which he
had half opened.

"Doctor Favre," she said, "I do know
something. And I can guess more. I warn you,
be on your guard, or you will be indirectly
accessory to a dreadful business. That sick
woman whom you have here is his wife—you
cannot deny it."

"  do deny it. I know nothing of the kind.
You are talking idly."

"What, on your honour?"

"On my honour; no."

"Then he has added to his villanies by wearing
a false name. What I warn you is, that he
is about to marry a girl down at Dieppe, and
it is his interest that this wife should be out
of the world by a certain day."

"Good gracious!" said the doctor. "Have
you any proof for all this?"

"It is for this I have travelled so far night
and day. I can give you names, dates,
everything. I own to you now my story of a
relation was all a fiction, except, indeed, that I have
a dear, dear brother whom this man has cruelly
wronged, and all but driven mad. God knows
but we may have to come to you for aid yet.
Still you shall not lose by what I have taken
up of your precious time." And, still speaking
very hurriedly, she laid some gold upon the
chimney-piece. " I give you this warning," she
said. "Guard her carefully. A man in so
desperate a situation as he is may be driven on
in spite of himself. What," said Margaret,
drawing closer, and seizing him by the wrist as
she whispered the words, " what if all this was
told to her in her present state. That might be the
best and most effectual cure in the world, and
make your name for you!"

She drew back, and looked at him steadily.
The doctor, a gentle, quiet man, seemed
confounded by the sudden incidents of this latter
part of the interview.

"The shock, the surprise," went on
Margaret—" we read of these things—has done
wonders. Such a rare opportunity for science
may never come again. The experiment would
be no harm. What if a letter was written and
shown to her? You say she is rational now.
I would do it, if you wish, for I too will stop at
nothing to save my unhappy brother, whom
these people have destroyed among them. Ah!"
said Margaret, raising her voice, and pointing
with her long finger as the door opened,
"there is the man! Colonel Vivian!"

Vivian, as he saw this grey and gaunt figure
denouncing him, turned ghastly pale, and all
but tottered back.

Next week, will be commenced,
HOLIDAY ROMANCE,
By CHARLES DICKENS;
And will be continued in each Monthly Part until
completed in Four Parts.

Now ready, price Fourpence,
THE
EXTRA DOUBLE NUMBER FOR CHRISTMAS
ENTITLED
NO THOROUGHFARE.
By CHARLES DICKENS
AND WILKIE COLLINS.