"Forgive me, madam," he said stiffly, "but in such a case as this it is better that nothing in the room should be disturbed until the arrival of the police. You have been burning paper, I see." "Are you a detective or a doctor?" she asked calmly. "Do you need me to remind you that your patient is bleeding to death?" He dropped on his knees by the man's side and made a hurried examination. "Who tied this scarf here?" he asked, looking up. "I did," Anna answered. "I hope that it has not done any harm." "He would have been dead before now without it," the doctor answered shortly. "Get me some brandy and my bag." It was nearly half an hour before they dared ask him the question. "Will he live?" The doctor shook his head. "It is very doubtful," he said. "You must send for the police at once, you know. You, sir," he added, turning to Brendon, "had better take my card round to the police station in Werner Street and ask that Detective Dorling be sent round here at once on urgent business." "Is it necessary to send for the police?" Anna asked. "Absolutely," the doctor answered, "and the sooner the better. This is a case either of suicide or murder. The police are concerned in it in either event." "Please go then, Mr. Brendon," Anna said. "You will come back, won't you?" He nodded cheerfully. "Of course I will," he answered. The doctor and Anna were left alone. Every moment or two he bent over his patient. He seemed to avoid meeting Anna's eyes as much as possible. "Does he live here?" he asked her presently. "No." "Far away?" "I have no idea," Anna answered. "Who is the tenant of these rooms?" he inquired. "I am." "You will have no objection to his remaining here?" he asked. "A move of any sort would certainly be fatal." "Of course not," Anna said. "Had he better have a nurse? I will be responsible for anything of that sort." "If he lives through the next hour," the doctor answered, "I will send some one. Do you know anything of his friends? Is there any one for whom we ought to send?" "I know very little of him beyond his name," Anna answered. "I know nothing whatever of his friends or his home. He used to live in a boarding-house in Russell Square. That is where I first knew him." The doctor looked at her thoughtfully. Perhaps for the first time he realized that Anna was by no means an ordinary person. His patient was distinctly of a different order of life. It was possible that his first impressions had not been correct. "Your name, I believe, is----" "Pellissier," Anna answered. "Allow me," the doctor said, "to give you a word of advice, Miss Pellissier. A detective will be here in a few moments to make inquiries into this affair. You may have something to conceal, you may not. Tell the whole truth. It always comes out sooner or later. Don't try to shield anybody or hide anything. It is bad policy." Anna smiled very faintly.