“Then to what do you attribute it?” “I don’t attribute it. There is nothing to which I can attribute it. But I tell you this in confidence, Johnson--if I heard that Charlie Preston had become another victim to the suicide epidemic I should not be surprised.” “You don’t say so! He is one of the last men I should have thought capable of that. When could I see him, I wonder? I should like to have a talk with him, after what you say.” “Why not ask him to lunch one day? Oddly enough, Johnson, Miss Hagerston, whom he is to marry, has greatly changed too. This is not imagination on my part, I can assure you.” But before Johnson could invite Preston to lunch, something happened. This was a visit which Johnson received from Cora Hartsilver; she had become acquainted with him about the time when Yootha was in trouble regarding the pearl necklace. Cora had made an appointment by telephone, and during the afternoon she called. “I have come to see you,” she said, “about my friend, Miss Hagerston, who tells me she had the pleasure of meeting you at Henley.” “Yes, and I had the pleasure of congratulating her upon her engagement. She is not indisposed, I hope?” “Indeed she is, seriously indisposed, though not in the way you mean. She is mentally indisposed, if I may put it so.” “I am sorry to hear that. Can you give me a few particulars?” “Well, she is staying with me at present, and has been since Henley week. She asked me if she might come to stay with me because she could no longer sleep at night in her flat--she got frightened and had terrible nightmares, she said. That she has something on her mind I am absolutely convinced; yet though we are such intimate friends she positively refuses to tell me anything, though she as good as admits that she is worried. So I thought I would take the liberty of asking your advice without telling her.” “Hadn’t I better see her?” “I think not, at least not yet. Your calling to see her would arouse her suspicion, because I have asked her once or twice to let me ask a doctor to call, and each time she has strongly opposed the suggestion.” “Is she unhappy at the thought of her approaching marriage?” “Indeed no! She is terribly in love. In fact, I tremble to think what would happen to her if any mishap befell Captain Preston. So strongly do I feel on that point that sometimes I wonder if she has some secret cause to believe that some mishap may befall him. He seems greatly worried too.” “So I understand.” “Why, who told you?” “His great friend, Blenkiron.” “Well, Doctor Johnson, what do you suggest?” For a minute the doctor did not answer. “You say the change in Miss Hagerston dates from Henley Regatta?” he said at last. “From the morning of the third day. She went to the Regatta on the second day only. She went with Captain Preston.” “That was the day I met them both on Mrs. Mervyn-Robertson’s house-boat. They were then both in the best of spirits, apparently, and looked radiantly happy.”