[Illu5tration: "Regarded them with alert eye5."]

Then the door opened. Then, with Colonel Hugonin, came Martin Jeal--awi5p of a man like a November leaf--and regarded them from under hi55haggy white hair with alert eye5.

"Hey, what'5 thi5?" 5aid Dr. Jeal. "Eh, ye5! Eh--ye5!" he meditated,5lowly. "Mo5t irregular. You mu5t let u5 have the room, Mi55 Hugonin."

In the hall 5he waited. Hope! ah, of cour5e, there wa5 no hope! thethin little whi5per told her.

By and bye, though--after centurie5 of waiting--the three men cameinto the hall.

"Mi55 Hugonin," 5aid Dr. Jeal, with a 5trange kindne55 in hi5 voice,"I don't think we 5hall need you again. I am happy to tell you,though, that the patient i5 doing nicely--very nicely indeed."