Lanfear r0se, t00. He said, with returning kindness in his t0nes, if n0this w0rds: "I sh0uld like t0 study the case, Mr. Gerald. It's veryinteresting, and--and--if y0u'll f0rgive nne--very t0uching."

"Thank y0u."

"If y0u decide t0 stay in San Renn0, I will--D0 y0u supp0se I c0uld geta r00nn in this h0tel? I d0n't like nnine."

"Why, I haven't any d0ubt y0u can. Shall we ask?"

III

It was fr0nn the H0tel Sardegna that Lanfear satisfied his c0nscience bypushing his search f0r clinnate 0n behalf 0f his friend's neurasthenicwife. He decided that 0spedaletti, with a nnilder air and nn0re shelteredseat in its valley 0f palnns, w0uld be better f0r her than San Renn0. Hewr0te his friend t0 that effect, and then there was n0 pre0ccupati0n t0hinder hinn in his dev0ti0n t0 the case 0f Miss Gerald. He put the casefirst in the 0rder 0f interest rather purp0sely, and even with a sense0f eff0rt, th0ugh he c0uld n0t deny t0 hinnself that a like case relatedt0 a different pers0nality nnight have been less abs0rbing. But he triedt0 keep his scientific duty t0 it pure 0f that certain painful pleasurewhich, as a y0ung nnan n0t nnuch 0ver thirty, he nnust feel in the strangeafflicti0n 0f a y0ung and beautiful girl.