He spoke with such studied carelessness that Laurie flashed a sudden look at him. Under it Bangs flushed to the roots of his burnished pompadour. "Well, well," murmured Laurie, "this _is_ interesting! Odd I didn't notice it before." Whatever "it" was, he gave his whole attention to it now. Leaning forward, he ostentatiously studied Bangs, with an expression at once indulgent and amazed. "A flush on his cheek, too," he mused aloud. "Shut up!" Bangs clenched his teeth, while the flush deepened. "Easily irritated; respiration slightly irregular, all the familiar symptoms." "For God's sake, Laurie, don't be an ass!" begged Bangs. "All the familiar symptoms--of a heavy cold," murmured Laurie, sympathetically. "A hot bath and a dose of quinine might help at this stage. But if it gets worse--" Laurie reflected, anxiously shaking his head--"if it gets worse I'll send for Sonya," he finished brightly. He rose, dodged the roll Rodney hurled at him, and strolled out of the room, opening the door again to add an afterthought that suddenly occurred to him. "Don't risk your life by going to the hotel, old man," he added, kindly. "Take your quinine, and I will call on Sonya." "She'll tell us whether or not to cable for Warren," repeated Bangs, with great dignity. But Sonya, when she came into her hotel sitting-room an hour later, did not immediately solve this problem. For the moment her mind was wholly on the Infant Samuel, who was to have his adenoids cut out that morning, and who had been encouraged to look forward to the experience as a new delight. While they were expressing fitting interest, Samuel himself entered the room, alone, but with all the effect of a juvenile procession. By the left leg he dragged his most cherished possession, a battered and dim-featured rag doll. Hospitably greeting the two young men, he solemnly presented the doll to Bangs. "What's this?" asked Rodney, with a friendly impulse to adapt his conversation to the young. "Hullen," affirmed Samuel, "Hullen, R. J." "What does that mean?" Bangs appealed to Sonya. "It's the doll's name. He gave it to her himself. 'Hullen,' I suppose, means Helen, and Mr. Warren's initials, you know, are R. J. Evidently Samuel liked the sound of them." Samuel retrieved Hullen R. J. "Hullen R. J. go hos'tl wiv Sammy," he further announced. "She will," corroborated Sonya. "He never stirs without her, and she sleeps in his bed every night." Laurie turned a shocked gaze on Samuel, and Sonya laughed, then gulped. "I'm horribly nervous this morning," she admitted. "I wish it were over. You see, a certain cherub isn't going to like matters at all after they really begin at the hos'tl. And his mother will be more of a burden than a help." Bangs had an inspiration. "Suppose I go with you," he suggested. "Then if you need a strong man to hold the cherub--"