"Doctor," said Maria, standing in the open door, "Jane says she'd like to have a chance to wash up before breakfast." "Come!" The Doctor, who had quite forgotten dinner in his joy over his friend's confidence in Nellie's recovery, looked at Maria remorsefully. "All right, Maria, we are quite ready." "We will need more ice in these cocktails," said John. "Will you help me, Maria?" They left the room together and Dr. Crossett went to Lola and offered her his arm. "My arm, Mademoiselle." "Please don't wait for me, Doctor. All I want is a little drop of coffee. I had tea with Mrs. Rupert. You run right along. I will be with you in a few moments." "I would wait," he returned politely, "but, oh, I am so hungry!" "You poor man. Run!" "I run!" And he left the room, half dragging Dr. Barnhelm with him. Lola stood for a moment, until she heard the scraping of the chairs as they seated themselves about the table in the next room, then, with a quick, furtive look over her shoulder, she took the small flat box from her bag and, opening it, held up under the brilliant electric lights a flashing, sparkling chain of gorgeous diamonds. No one saw her, as she stood there, playing lovingly with them, dropping them over her dress, holding them about her throat, her eyes blazing with joy and excitement. Had there been anyone to see, the thought would have come to him that in her face there was a passion of greed scarcely human, and when, for a moment, she thought she heard a step approaching, a look came to her as she hid the jewels in her breast like the look that comes to a wild beast of the jungle, when it is threatened with being robbed of its prey. After a moment, standing there, tense and watchful, she drew them out again, and held them up, her face all smiles and happiness, her eyes flashing back the brilliancy of the jewels. At last she tired of them and dropped them carelessly on the table, and stood there thinking of where she could conceal them. It would be nice to have them always with her, to feel them about her neck, but she was afraid. The possession of a fortune in diamonds would be a difficult matter to explain. She thought of the wall safe, and at once decided to put them there, so she went to it quickly and worked the combination. As she opened the safe the first thing she saw was the large roll of bills, left there by her father. She held them in her hand for a moment. Dr. Crossett had given her father more money. She was very glad of that. It was so tiresome to be always hearing him complain of poverty. She threw the bills back carelessly, and, taking out a small jewel box of black japaned wood, unlocked it with a tiny key from her bag and, putting her necklace back in its case, locked the box and the safe, turning away quickly as she heard the bell ring and Maria go to the door. A moment later, as Maria returned down the hall with a card in her hand, Lola met her. "What is it, Maria?" "A lady to see your father." "A patient?"