He thought in silence over this for some time, and then spoke as if he had suddenly made his mind up. "Medical science, as far as I am acquainted with it," he said, "can do nothing for Lord Thurso--at least, I fear not. Therefore, if there was a man outside in the Park there with a barrel-organ and a monkey who said he could cure the opium habit, I should welcome him in. Personally, I don't believe in Christian Science for cases of compound fracture, but it doesn't matter what I believe. It is my duty to try everything I can. Now, you must let me have a consultation with you about it all." Again he paused. He wanted to put his thoughts clearly, not only to her, but to himself. "We are situated like this," he said. "I have no notion how to cure your brother, and all that I feel myself able to do is to palliate his sufferings. But the moment--assuming, that is, which I feel justified in doing, that he gets over this attack--that I begin to make his days painless, I aggravate his disease. You, Lady Maud, I know, believe that there is a chance for him: I do not; but since I cannot professionally suggest any other chance, all I can say is, 'Do what you can, and God be with you.' Now, as regards practical details, what are we to do? Where is this Mr. Cochrane? But I suppose there are plenty of these healers, are there not? If he is not handy, we can get another." Maud strove for a moment to separate the strands of her two desires, that seemed inextricably intermingled. The one was to see Thurso delivered from this drug-possession, the other to put him in the hands of Mr. Cochrane--him only. "I have knowledge of only one Christian Scientist whom I really believe in," she said, "and that is Mr. Cochrane. You see, I saw him with my own eyes restore to life a man who was dying. I know there are plenty of others. I could ask Mrs. Yardly." Sir James laughed suddenly. "Why that?" asked Maud. "She came to me a few months ago for a tonic," he said. "She had been suffering from general catarrh. She explained to me why this was not inconsistent, but I failed to follow her." Maud laughed too. "Oh, Alice!" she said to herself. "But Mr. Cochrane, you think, is not like her," said Sir James. "You can't imagine a more totally different personality," she said. "He gives confidence, anyhow, and he is not silly. I think there is a great deal of what is silly about the whole thing, but I believe that the direct power of God can come and heal people. That is about the biggest thing possible, isn't it?" Sir James nodded quietly. "Yes, my dear young lady," he said. "I believe in that possibility, too, and that is why I am consulting you. Oh, but compound fracture," he said suddenly--"what ridiculous nonsense!" He was silent for a moment after this irrepressible burst of professional indignation. "And this Mr. Cochrane," he asked--"where is he?" "In America," said Maud. "I heard from him two days ago. He is in New York."