Lucas lay back in his chair and suffered himself to relax with a sigh. Capper's eyes darted lizard-like over him, taking in every line of him, keenly alive to each detail. "If I were you I should shunt as soon as possible," he said. "Since it isn't your own show unfortunately, I should imagine you are not indispensable." But at this point the throng parted, and Dot, looking very young in her bridal white, and supremely happy, burst eagerly through, "Oh, here you are!" she cried. "Your mother said you were close by, but I couldn't see you anywhere. It's been too much for you. You're tired." She bent over him in quick solicitude, then, as he smiled and drew her down to him, stooped and kissed him, whispering a few words for his ear alone. Bertie was close behind her, but he had caught sight of Capper and had stopped short with a queer expression on his boyish face, a look that was a curious blend of consternation and relief. A moment and he stepped up to the great doctor and took him by the elbow. "You here already!" he said. "I didn't expect you so soon." "I have only run down to have a look at things," said Capper. "I seem to have pitched on a busy day. I hope you are enjoying yourself." "Thanks!" said Bertie, with a brief laugh. "Say, Doctor, you'll let me know your plans?" "Certainly--when they are ripe." The green eyes gleamed humorously. "Aren't you thinking of introducing me to Mrs. Bertie?" he suggested. "Yes, yes, of course. But you won't do anything without me?" urged Bertie. "I should greatly like a talk with you, but I'm afraid it can't be managed." "I mightily doubt if you could tell me anything that I don't know already," said Capper, "on any subject." "It's about Luke," said Bertie anxiously. "Just so. Well, I guess I know more about Luke than any other person on this merry little planet." "Do you think he looks worse?" whispered Bertie. Capper's long, yellow hand fastened very unobtrusively and very forcibly upon his shoulder. "One thing at a time, good Bertie!" he said. "Weren't you going to present me to--your wife?" CHAPTER III THE WOMAN'S PART It was on a day of wild autumnal weather, when the wind moaned like a living thing in torture about the house, and the leaves eddied and drifted before the scudding rain, that they turned Tawny Hudson out of his master's room, and left him crouched and whimpering like a dog against the locked door. Save for his master's express command, no power on earth would have driven him away, not even Capper of the curt speech and magnetic will. But the master had spoken very definitely and distinctly, and it was Tawny Hudson's to obey. Therefore he huddled on the mat, rocking to and fro, shivering like some monstrous animal in pain, while within the room Capper wrought his miracles.