"You must hear me to the end first, sir, and then you will see what confidences you choose to give to, and what to withhold from, me. Whatever may be your decision I shall, of course, cheerfully abide by; but it is rather an important matter, as you will find before I have finished, and I look to you for assistance and advice in it." There was such an earnestness in the tone in which George spoke these last words, that the Doctor raised himself from his lounging position and regarded his son with astonishment. "My dear boy," said he, putting out his hands and grasping his son's warmly, "you may depend on having both to the utmost extent of my power. We don't see much of each other, and we don't make much parade of parental and filial affection; but I don't think we like each other the less for that; and I know that I am very proud of you, and only too delighted to have any opportunity--you give me very few--of being of service to you. Now speak." "You never told me you knew the Derinzys, father." "My dear boy, I don't suppose I have ever mentioned the names of one-third of the persons whom I know professionally in your hearing." "But you knew Paul was my friend." "Exactly," said the Doctor, with a smile, "and in my knowledge of that fact you might perhaps find the reason of my silence." "Ah!" said George, "of course I see now; it is no use beating about the bush any longer; I must come to it at last, and may as well do so at once. You will tell me, won't you? Is Annette Derinzy mad?" The Doctor was not the least disturbed by the question, nor by the excited manner--so different from George's usual calm--in which it was put. He looked up steadily as he replied: "Yes; I should say decidedly yes, in the broad and general acceptation of the word; for people are called mad who are occasionally subjects of mental hallucination, and at other times are remarkably clear-sighted and keen-witted, Miss Derinzy is one of these." "Have you attended her?" "For some years." "And she has always been subject to these attacks?" "Ever since I knew her. I was, of course, at first called in to her on account of them." "Your attendance on Mrs. Derinzy has been merely a pretext?" "Exactly; a pretext invented by the family and not by me." "Have you any reason for imagining why this pretext was made?" "They wished to keep everyone in ignorance of Miss Derinzy's state, and asked me to procure a trustworthy person whom I could recommend as her nurse----" "Ah, Mrs. Stothard?" "Exactly; Mrs. Stothard--you have made her acquaintance too?--and to visit the young lady from time to time." "And you were asked to keep the fact of your visits from me?" "Certainly. The Derinzys were aware that you were in the same office with their son, and were most desirous that his cousin's state should be concealed from him, above all others. Why, I never thought proper to inquire."