“I hope you will not treat me like an animal,” she said, and Mrs. Rooks sniffed. “If you behave yourself, you’ll be treated well. All nutty people have a good time if they don’t get fresh and obstrepulous. That’s the doctor’s way.” It was clear to Lois that, whatever faults this woman might have, however brutal she might be, she had accepted without any question any diagnosis that the doctor might make. To Mrs. Rooks she was crazy, just as was the other woman. And if she became “obstrepulous” she would be served in the same way. “Why did you call her a gaolbird?” Again that shrewd, suspicious scrutiny. “I call her lots of things,” said Mrs. Rooks indifferently. “If you hadn’t been spying you wouldn’t have heard. Names don’t hurt anybody. They’re better than the whip anyway--did you know that man that came last night?” “Mr. Dorn?” “Yes, who is he?” “He’s a police officer,” said Lois. The effect of the words upon the woman was unexpected. Her sallow skin became a pasty white. “A detective!” Lois nodded, and Mrs. Rooks’ face cleared. “That’s part of your crazy ideas,” she said calmly. “He is a man the doctor owes money to. I know, because the doctor told me. The doctor’s been in difficulties, and he’s not the kind of man who’d have any trouble with the police. They told a lot of lies about him in India, but he’s a good man, the best man in the world.” And then a thought struck Lois, and she asked: “What is supposed to be my delusion?” Mrs. Rooks shot a cunning glance at the girl. “I’m surprised at you asking that, young lady! You think you’re somebody who you’re not!” Lois frowned. “You mean I am under the impression that I am somebody important?” Mrs. Rooks nodded. “Yes--you think you’re the Countess of Moron!” she said. Chapter Thirty-one Lois could hardly believe her ears. “Me?” she said in amazement. “I think I am the Countess of Moron? How absurd! I think nothing of the kind!” “Yes, you do,” nodded Mrs. Rooks. “The doctor said you think you’re the countess. You tried to murder Lady Moron because you wanted the title!” The suggestion was so ludicrous that Lois laughed. “How ridiculous! Such an idea has never entered my head. Lady Moron! Why, I am a secretary--where did you hear this?” “The doctor told me,” said the woman stubbornly. “He never tells lies--except to people he owes money to, but that’s natural, ain’t it?” She went out of the room soon after and was gone for half an hour, apparently attending to the needs of the other prisoner, for when she came back she had something to say about discontented people. “She’s had all she wants to eat and all she wants to drink and still she’s not satisfied. That shows she’s mad. I never knew a crazy woman that was satisfied.” Lois thought it was a weakness, not entirely confined to the crazy. “When are we leaving here?”