He opened the door and Susan passed out bewilderedly. He returned to Florence, who was even more bewildered than her companion. The doctor began to ask her questions; how she slept, if she was thirsty, felt pains in her back. She answered all these questions vaguely. Not the slightest suspicion entered her head that she was being hoodwinked. Why should she entertain any suspicion? This doctor, who seemed kindly and benevolent, who had prescribed for Susan and benefited her, why should she doubt him? "In heaven's name, tell me what is the matter?" she pleaded. "Stay here for a little while and I'll be back. Under no circumstances leave your room till I return." He paced out into the hall, to meet the frantic Susan. "We must see the manager at once," he replied to her queries. "And we must be extremely quiet about it. There must be no excitement. You had better go to your room. You must not go into Miss Hargreave's. Tell me, where have you been? Have you been trying to do any charitable work among the poorer classes?" "Only once," admitted Susan, now on the verge of tears. "Only once is sufficient. Come; we'll go and see the manager together." They arrived at the desk, and the manager was summoned. "I take it," began the doctor lowly, "that a contagious disease, if it became known among your guests, would create a good deal of disturbance?" "Disturbance! Good heavens, man, it would ruin my business for the whole season!" exclaimed the astounded manager. "I am sorry, but this young lady's companion has been stricken with smallpox--" The manager fell back against his desk, his jaw fallen. Susan turned as white as the marble top. "The only way to avoid trouble is to have her conveyed immediately to some place where she can be treated properly. Not a word to any one now; absolute secrecy or a panic." The manager was glad enough to agree. "She is not dangerous at present, but it is only a matter of a few hours when the disease will become virulent. If you will place a porter before Miss Hargreave's door till I make arrangements to take her away, that will simplify matters." Smallpox! Susan wandered aimlessly about, half out of her mind with terror. There was no help against such a dreaded disease. Her Florence, her pretty rosy-cheeked Florence, disfigured for life....! "Miss Susan, where is Florence?" "Oh, Mr. Norton!" she gasped. "What's the trouble?" instantly alert. "Florence has the smallpox!" "Impossible! Come with me." But the porter having had the strictest orders from the manager, refused to let them into Florence's room. "Never mind, Susan. Come along." Out of earshot of the porter, he said: "My room is directly above Florence's. We'll see what can be done. This smells of the Black Hundred a mile off. Smallpox! Only yesterday she wrote me that she never felt better. Have you wired Jones?" "I never thought to!" "Then I shall. Our old friends are at work again."