"As you wish," he said. "I shall not be many minutes." He turned and ran back towards the railway station. Dr. Santley, the family physician of the Paultons, lived close by, and Alfred Paulton resolved to summon him, although he might not be exactly the nearest medical man. Time would be gained rather than lost by going for him, as Santley would come at once without waiting for explanations--that is, if he were at home. On his way he had little space to think, the time being short and the pace quick. He was more lucky than he had hoped, for he almost ran over the man he sought at the gate of his house. "Oh, doctor," he cried, almost breathless, "I am so glad to meet you up and dressed! I want you, if you will be good enough to come with me at once." "Mr. Paulton, I'm sorry. What is the matter? I have just come back from another unexpected patient. "It's no one at our place, thank goodness! It's some one at Crescent House. I don't even know the name." By this time both men were walking rapidly towards Half Moon Lane. Dr. Santley was a tall, slender man, with full black beard and moustaches. He had a quiet, gentle, responsible manner, and rarely smiled. As the two strode on together, Alfred Paulton described the scene in which he had just taken part. When he had finished, his companion said: "Ah, I saw the vans at the door to-day; but surely they cannot have got a big house like that straight in so short a time. Here we are." They had arrived at the spot where a few minutes before the younger man had stood and spoken to the strange woman in the doorway. The door was now not open. Paulton rattled noisily at the gate, and then waited a while. There was no answer. He looked at the windows of the house; none was lighted up. Light shone in the fan-sash over the door. "You cannot have mistaken the house in the dark?" asked Dr. Santley, suppressing a yawn. "Impossible! It was the only house to be let. It is Crescent House, and you yourself saw the furniture going in to-day." Again he rattled the gate, this time as loudly as he could. At length the door of the house was opened slowly, and against the light of the lamp the same figure as Paulton had seen before was revealed. Again the woman stood still on the threshold and leaned out into the darkness. This time she at once turned her face towards the gate. Before either of the men had time to speak, she said in a calm, low, penetrating voice: "Is the doctor there? "Yes," answered both in a breath. "I will open the gate in a moment." With a firm, swift step she left the doorway and trod the gravelled path leading to the gate. She did not hesitate or fumble at the latch. In a few seconds the gate swung open. "This is Dr. Santley; he is our family physician. He and I live close by. May I offer you my card? I and my family will, I am sure, feel delighted to be of any service to you," said Paulton, raising his hat.