Rumsey had warned her as to the peril which she ran in fostering too keenly a fixed idea--he had taken pains to give her psychological reasons for the danger which she incurred--but nothing he could say or do could alter the bias of her mind. Her fixed and unwavering assurance that her boy was absolutely innocent could not be imperilled by any words which man could speak. "If I had even seen my boy do the murder I should still believe it to be a vision of my own brain," she had said once, and after that Rumsey had ceased to try to guide her thoughts into a healthier channel. On this particular night when the doctor came upstairs after wine, accompanied by the rest of the men of the party, Mrs. Everett seemed to draw him to her side by her watchful and excited glances. There was something about the man which could never withstand an appeal of human need--he went straight now to the widow's side as a needle is attracted to a magnet. "Well," he said, drawing a chair forward, and seating himself so as almost to face her. "You guessed that I wanted to see you?" she said eagerly. "I looked at you and that was sufficient," he said. "When can you give me an interview?" she replied. "Do you want to visit me as a patient?" "I do not--that is, not in the ordinary sense. I want to tell you something. I have a story to relate, and when it is told I should like to get your verdict on a certain peculiar case--in short, I believe I have got a clue, if only a slight one, to the unravelling of the mystery of my life--you quite understand?" "Yes, I understand," replied Dr. Rumsey in a gentle voice, "but, my dear lady, I am not a detective." "Not in the ordinary sense, but surely as far as the complex heart is concerned." Dr. Rumsey held up his hand. "We need not go into that," he said. "No, we will not. May I see you to-morrow for a few minutes?" The doctor consulted his note-book. "I cannot see you as a patient," he said, "but as a friend it is possible. Can you be here at eight o'clock to-morrow morning? I breakfast at eight--my breakfast generally occupies ten minutes--that time is at your disposal." "I will be with you. Thank you a thousand times," she replied. Her eyes grew bright with exultation. The doctor favored her with a keen glance and moved aside. A few minutes later he found himself in Margaret Awdrey's vicinity. Margaret was now a very beautiful woman. As a girl she had been lovely, but her early matronhood had developed her charms, had added to her stateliness, and had brought out many new and fresh expressions in her mobile and lovely face. As Rumsey approached her side, she was in the act of taking leave of an old friend of her husband's, who was going away early. The Doctor was therefore able to watch her for a minute without her observing him--then she turned slightly, saw him, flushed vividly, and went eagerly and swiftly to his side.