John hesitated; in his mind there was a thought that he dared not put into words. Even to himself he had not dared to express it, but this man was wise; if there could be any truth in the wild idea that had forced itself into his brain here was a man who would know. "She was always the same, Doctor, always, until that night, the first time I saw her after--after she was--hurt, the change began then; from that hour----" "Oh!" He looked up, startled by a moan of terror, of horror, and saw that Maria had entered the room with a tea-tray in her hands. She was standing now, white as a dead woman, her eyes fixed upon the door. He turned to follow her frightened gaze, and as he did so a nameless dread came over him. He saw the door open slowly, very slowly, and a woman's figure standing quietly on the threshold; he did not need to raise his eyes; he did not need the frightened cry from Maria nor the Doctor's sharp exclamation; he knew, and knowing he slowly raised his head and looked into her face. CHAPTER XXI CONCLUSION Lola stood there, leaning against the partly-opened door, looking at them, with a smile of curious amusement on her face. Maria, after one long look, sank to her knees and hid her face in her arms. John and the Doctor stood silent, both of them trying to find in this pale, wonderfully gowned, hollow-eyed but beautiful woman some trace of the girl they had loved. It was Lola--and yet---- "Ah!" She spoke quietly, but with a queer monotony of tone that struck unpleasantly on the ear. "All my old friends. I hardly expected this." "You have come back." "Yes, John, as you so keenly observe, I have come back." "To stay?" "For the present, yes." "I knew that you would come." "Oh, yes, no doubt. You looked for me to return in rags and repentance. That naturally would be your idea of a proper retribution. Well, I am here, but I came in neither rags nor repentance. I do not even come in fear. I came to claim what is mine by right." She stepped forward very slowly and sat in the same little chair she had always chosen. John noticed how languid were all her movements; the Doctor saw more, and knew now the reason of her return. He would have spoken, but he heard her father's step in the hall, and for one of the few times in his life he lost his head. He tried to call out, to warn him, in some way to prepare him for the shock, but he could not; he seemed for a moment to have lost the power of speech, of movement, and before he could recover himself Dr. Barnhelm came into the room.