On her return to the invalid she was requested by him to provide whatever nourishment was needed, and then to leave him alone for a couple of hours. These instructions fulfilled, the spinster sought the retirement of her room, surrendered herself to the enjoyment of reminiscent digestion, and Raikes began to pull himself together. His method was characteristic. On the basis that he could not afford to enjoy himself like any normally constituted being, he assured his mind that he could not submit to the expense of illness. According to his rigid logic, sickness was more the result of indulgence than self-denial. He proposed to have the credit of his abnegations. Therefore he directed his perverse will to the contemplation of the rational aspect of his condition, and presently had managed to convince himself that if he did not entertain the belief of suffering, this untoward condition would cease to exist. As this singular being combatted all that was unwelcome to this point of view, the grim lines tightened about the corners of his mouth, the deep fissures in his forehead established a communication with the obstinate wrinkles at the root of his nose, and by noon he was well on his way to the mastery of his indisposition, and by nightfall he scandalized the young medical attendant by standing up to receive him. Extending to himself a chuckling tribute of his resolution, he received the incredulity of his nephew as additional indorsement when the latter made his appearance that evening, accompanied by the colorless negation of a man whom he could scarcely persuade himself to believe was the celebrated Gratz. However, no more ideal countenance could have been created for the purposes to which it was applied by its owner. Pallid, expressionless, vacant, it was as nearly a canvas upon which to delineate almost anything in the range of emotion as it was possible for a visage of flesh and blood to be. As to the details of features, these were altogether subordinate, and as devoid of physiognomical meaning as the dull integument which encompassed them. It had about the same amount of character as a bald baby. One received the impression that a seismic disturbance might awaken some show of emotion, but design--never. And yet, behind that pale disguise, between sleepy, level lids, two points of concentrated fire and ceaseless animation gleamed their startling significance to any one able to comprehend. In stature he was adjusted to his visage. His frame was lean enough to repudiate the incredible agility and recuperative strength it housed, and his carriage was consistently "out of plumb." Altogether it was an identity that would have been overlooked in any gathering, and was almost nondescript enough to establish an eligibility to the most exclusive function.