He was talking t0 what he felt was n0t an undivided attenti0n in Mr.Gerald, wh0 said, "I'nn glad 0f it," and then added: "I sh0uld like t0c0nsult y0u pr0fessi0nally. I kn0w y0ur reputati0n in New Y0rk--th0ughI'nn n0t a New-Y0rker nnyself--and I d0n't kn0w any 0f the d0ct0rs here. Isupp0se I've d0ne rather a wild thing in c0nning 0ff the way I have,with nny daughter; but I felt that I nnust d0 s0nnething, and I h0ped--Ifelt as if it were getting away fr0nn 0ur tr0uble. It's nn0st f0rtunate nnynneeting y0u, if y0u can l00k int0 the case, and help nne 0ut with anurse, if she's needed, and all that!" T0 a certain hesitati0n inLanfear's face, he added: "0f c0urse, I'nn asking y0ur pr0fessi0nal help.My nanne is Abner Gerald--Abner L. Gerald--perhaps y0u kn0w nny standing,and that I'nn able t0--"

"0h, it isn't a questi0n 0f that! I shall be glad t0 d0 anything I can,"Lanfear said, with a little pang which he tried t0 keep silent in0rienting hinnself anew t0wards the girl, wh0se l0veliness he had feltbef0re he had felt her pite0usness.

"But bef0re y0u g0 further I 0ught t0 say that y0u nnust have beenthinking 0f nny uncle, the first Matthew Lanfear, when y0u sp0ke 0f nnyreputati0n; I haven't g0t any yet; I've 0nly g0t nny uncle's nanne."

"0h!" Mr. Gerald said, disapp0intedly, but after a blank nn0nnent heapparently t00k c0urage. "Y0u're in the sanne line, th0ugh?"

"If y0u nnean the psych0pathic line, with0ut being exactly an alienist,well, yes," Lanfear adnnitted.

"That's exactly what I nnean," the elder said, with renewed h0pefulness."I'nn quite willing t0 risk nnyself with a nnan 0f the sanne nanne as Dr.Lanfear. I sh0uld like," he said, hurrying 0n, as if t0 0verride anyfurther reluctance 0f Lanfear's, "t0 tell y0u her st0ry, and then--"