Dr. Ledsmar abruptly scuffled his feet on the
floor, and took out his watch. "I'm afraid --"
he began.

"No, no! There's plenty of time," remarked
the priest, with his soft half-smile and purring
tones. "You finish your cigar here with Mr. Ware,
and excuse me while I run down and get rid of
the people in the hall."

Father Forbes tossed his cigar-end into the
fender. Then he took from the mantel a strange
three-cornered black-velvet cap, with a dangling
silk tassel at the side, put it on his head, and went
out.

Theron, being left alone with the doctor, hardly
knew what to do or say. He took up a paper from
the floor beside him, but realized that it would be
impolite to go farther, and laid it on his knee.
Some trace of that earlier momentary feeling that
he was in hostile hands came back, and worried
him. He lifted himself upright in the chair,
and then became conscious that what really dis-
turbed him was the fact that Dr. Ledsmar had
turned in his seat, crossed his legs, and was
contemplating him with a gravely concentrated
scrutiny through his spectacles.

This uncomfortable gaze kept itself up a long
way beyond the point of good manners; but the
doctor seemed not to mind that at all.

-112-