IV
ONEbrightmorninglateinFebruaryDr。ArchiewasbreakfastingcomfortablyattheWaldorf。HehadgotintoJerseyCityonanearlytrain，andared，windysunriseovertheNorthRiverhadgivenhimagoodappetite。Heconsultedthemorningpaperwhilehedrankhiscoffeeandsawthat\"Lohengrin\"wastobesungattheoperathatevening。Inthelistoftheartistswhowouldappearwasthename\"Kronborg。\"Suchabruptnessratherstartledhim。\"Kronborg\"：itwasimpressiveandyet，somehow，disrespectful；somewhatrudeandbrazen，onthebackpageofthemorningpaper。Afterbreakfasthewenttothehotelticketofficeandaskedthegirlifshecouldgivehimsome—
thingfor\"Lohengrin，\"\"nearthefront。\"Hismannerwasatrifleawkwardandhewonderedwhetherthegirlnoticedit。Evenifshedid，ofcourse，shecouldscarcelysuspect。
Beforetheticketstandhesawabunchofbluepostersannouncingtheoperacastsfortheweek。Therewas\"Lohengrin，\"andunderithesaw：——
ELSAVONBRABANT……TheaKronborg。
Thatlookedbetter。Thegirlgavehimaticketforaseatwhichshesaidwasexcellent。Hepaidforitandwentouttothecabstand。HementionedtothedriveranumberonRiversideDriveandgotintoataxi。Itwouldnot，ofcourse，betherightthingtocalluponTheawhenshewasgoingtosingintheevening。Heknewthatmuch，thankgoodness！FredOttenburghadhintedtohimthat，morethanalmostanythingelse，thatwouldputoneinwrong。
Whenhereachedthenumbertowhichhedirectedhisletters，hedismissedthecabandgotoutforawalk。The
houseinwhichThealivedwasasimpersonalastheWaldorf，andquiteaslarge。Itwasabove116thStreet，wheretheDrivenarrows，andinfrontofittheshelvingbankdroppedtotheNorthRiver。AsArchiestrolledaboutthepathswhichtraversedthisslope，belowthestreetlevel，thefourteenstoriesoftheapartmenthotelroseabovehimlikeaperpendicularcliff。HehadnoideaonwhichfloorThealived，buthereflected，ashiseyeranoverthemanywindows，thattheoutlookwouldbefinefromanyfloor。
TheforbiddinghugenessofthehousemadehimfeelasifhehadexpectedtomeetTheainacrowdandhadmissedher。Hedidnotreallybelievethatshewashiddenawaybehindanyofthoseglitteringwindows，orthathewastohearherthisevening。Hiswalkwascuriouslyuninspiringandunsuggestive。PresentlyrememberingthatOttenburghadencouragedhimtostudyhislesson，hewentdowntotheoperahouseandboughtalibretto。Hehadevenbroughthisold\"Adler’sGermanandEnglish\"inhistrunk，andafterluncheonhesettleddowninhisgildedsuiteattheWaldorfwithabigcigarandthetextof\"Lohengrin。\"
Theoperawasannouncedforseven—forty—five，butathalf—pastsevenArchietookhisseatintherightfrontoftheorchestracircle。HehadneverbeeninsidetheMetropoli—
tanOperaHousebefore，andtheheightoftheaudienceroom，therichcolor，andthesweepofthebalconieswerenotwithouttheireffectuponhim。Hewatchedthehousefillwithagrowingfeelingofexpectation。Whenthesteelcurtainroseandthemenoftheorchestratooktheirplaces，hefeltdistinctlynervous。Theburstofapplausewhichgreetedtheconductorkeyedhimstillhigher。Hefoundthathehadtakenoffhisglovesandtwistedthemtoastring。Whenthelightswentdownandtheviolinsbegantheoverture，theplacelookedlargerthanever；agreatpit，shadowyandsolemn。Thewholeatmosphere，hereflected，wassomehowmoreseriousthanhehadanticipated。
Afterthecurtainsweredrawnbackuponthescenebeside
theScheldt，hegotreadilyintotheswingofthestory。HewassomuchinterestedinthebasswhosangKINGHENRY
thathehadalmostforgottenforwhathewaswaitingsonervously，whentheHERALDbeganinstentoriantonestosummonELSAVONBRABANT。Thenhebegantorealizethathewasratherfrightened。Therewasaflutterofwhiteatthebackofthestage，andwomenbegantocomein：two，four，six，eight，butnottherightone。Itflashedacrosshimthatthiswassomethinglikebuck—fever，theparalyz—
ingmomentthatcomesuponamanwhenhisfirstelklooksathimthroughthebushes，underitsgreatantlers；
themomentwhenaman’smindissofullofshootingthatheforgetstheguninhishanduntilthebucknodsadieutohimfromadistanthill。
Allatonce，beforethebuckhadlefthim，shewasthere。
Yes，unquestionablyitwasshe。Hereyesweredowncast，butthehead，thecheeks，thechin——therecouldbenomistake；sheadvancedslowly，asifshewerewalkinginhersleep。Someonespoketoher；sheonlyinclinedherhead。Hespokeagain，andshebowedherheadstilllower。
Archiehadforgottenhislibretto，andhehadnotcountedupontheselongpauses。Hehadexpectedhertoappearandsingandreassurehim。Theyseemedtobewaitingforher。Didsheeverforget？Whyinthunderdidn’tshe——
Shemadeasound，afaintone。Thepeopleonthestagewhisperedtogetherandseemedconfounded。Hisnervous—
nesswasabsurd。Shemusthavedonethisoftenbefore；
sheknewherbearings。Shemadeanothersound，buthecouldmakenothingofit。ThentheKingsangtoher，andArchiebegantorememberwheretheywereinthestory。
Shecametothefrontofthestage，liftedhereyesforthefirsttime，claspedherhandsandbegan，\"EINSAMINTRUBEN
TAGEN。\"
Yes，itwasexactlylikebuck—fever。Herfacewasthere，towardthehousenow，beforehiseyes，andhepositivelycouldnotseeit。Shewassinging，atlast，andhepositively
couldnothearher。Hewasconsciousofnothingbutanuncomfortabledreadandasenseofcrushingdisappoint—
ment。Hehad，afterall，missedher。Whateverwasthere，shewasnotthere——forhim。
TheKinginterruptedher。Shebeganagain，\"INLICHTER
WAFFENSCHEINE。\"Archiedidnotknowwhenhisbuck—
feverpassed，butpresentlyhefoundthathewassittingquietlyinadarkenedhouse，notlisteningtobutdreaminguponariverofsilversound。Hefeltapartfromtheothers，driftingaloneonthemelody，asifhehadbeenalonewithitforalongwhileandhadknownitallbefore。Hispowerofattentionwasnotgreatjustthen，butinsofarasitwentheseemedtobelookingthroughanexaltedcalmnessatabeautifulwomanfromfaraway，fromanothersortoflifeandfeelingandunderstandingthanhisown，whohadinherfacesomethinghehadknownlongago，muchbrightenedandbeautified。Asaladheusedtobelievethatthefacesofpeoplewhodiedwerelikethatinthenextworld；thesamefaces，butshiningwiththelightofanewunderstand—
ing。No，Ottenburghadnotpreparedhim！
Whathefeltwasadmirationandestrangement。Thehomelyreunion，thathehadsomehowexpected，nowseemedfoolish。Insteadoffeelingproudthatheknewherbetterthanallthesepeopleabouthim，hefeltchagrinedathisowningenuousness。Forhedidnotknowherbetter。
Thiswomanhehadneverknown；shehadsomehowde—
vouredhislittlefriend，asthewolfateupRedRidinghood。
Beautiful，radiant，tenderasshewas，shechilledhisoldaffection；thatsortoffeelingwasnotappropriate。Sheseemedmuch，muchfartherawayfromhimthanshehadseemedallthoseyearswhenshewasinGermany。Theoceanhecouldcross，buttherewassomethingherehecouldnotcross。Therewasamoment，whensheturnedtotheKingandsmiledthatrare，sunrisesmileofherchild—
hood，whenhethoughtshewascomingbacktohim。AftertheHERALD’Ssecondcallforherchampion，whensheknelt
inherimpassionedprayer，therewasagainsomethingfamiliar，akindofwildwonderthatshehadhadthepowertocalluplongago。ButshemerelyremindedhimofThea；
thiswasnotthegirlherself。
Afterthetenorcameon，thedoctorceasedtryingtomakethewomanbeforehimfitintoanyofhischerishedrecollections。Hetookher，insofarashecould，forwhatshewasthenandthere。Whentheknightraisedthekneelinggirlandputhismailedhandonherhair，whensheliftedtohimafacefullofworshipandpassionatehumility，Archiegaveuphislastreservation。Heknewnomoreaboutherthandidthehundredsaroundhim，whosatintheshadowandlookedon，ashelooked，somewithmoreunderstanding，somewithless。HeknewasmuchaboutORTRUDEorLOHENGRINasheknewaboutELSA——more，be—
causeshewentfurtherthanthey，shesustainedtheleg—
endarybeautyofherconceptionmoreconsistently。Evenhecouldseethat。Attitudes，movements，herface，herwhitearmsandfingers，everythingwassuffusedwitharosytenderness，awarmhumility，agraciousandyet——
tohim——whollyestrangingbeauty。
Duringthebalconysinginginthesecondactthedoctor’sthoughtswereasfarawayfromMoonstoneasthesinger’sdoubtlesswere。Hehadbegun，indeed，tofeeltheexhila—
rationofgettingfreefrompersonalities，ofbeingreleasedfromhisownpastaswellasfromTheaKronborg’s。Itwasverymuch，hetoldhimself，likeamilitaryfuneral，exaltingandimpersonal。Somethingolddiedinone，andoutofitsomethingnewwasborn。DuringtheduetwithORTRUDE，andthesplendorsoftheweddingprocessional，thisnewfeelinggrewandgrew。AttheendoftheactthereweremanycurtaincallsandELSAacknowledgedthem，brilliant，gracious，spirited，withherfar—breakingsmile；butonthewholeshewasharderandmoreself—containedbeforethecurtainthanshewasinthescenebehindit。Archiedidhispartintheapplausethatgreetedher，butitwasthenew
andwonderfulheapplauded，nottheoldanddear。Hispersonal，proprietaryprideinherwasfrozenout。
HewalkedaboutthehouseduringtheENTR’ACTE，andhereandthereamongthepeopleinthefoyerhecaughtthename\"Kronborg。\"Onthestaircase，infrontofthecoffee—
room，along—hairedyouthwithafatfacewasdiscoursingtoagroupofoldwomenabout\"dieKronborg。\"Dr。Archiegatheredthathehadcrossedontheboatwithher。
Aftertheperformancewasover，ArchietookataxiandstartedforRiversideDrive。Hemeanttoseeitthroughto—night。Whenheenteredthereceptionhallofthehotelbeforewhichhehadstrolledthatmorning，thehallporterchallengedhim。HesaidhewaswaitingforMissKronborg。
Theporterlookedathimsuspiciouslyandaskedwhetherhehadanappointment。Heansweredbrazenlythathehad。Hewasnotusedtobeingquestionedbyhallboys。
Archiesatfirstinonetapestrychairandtheninanother，keepingasharpeyeonthepeoplewhocameinandwentupintheelevators。Hewalkedaboutandlookedathiswatch。Anhourdraggedby。Noonehadcomeinfromthestreetnowforabouttwentyminutes，whentwowomenen—
tered，carryingagreatmanyflowersandfollowedbyatallyoungmaninchauffeur’suniform。Archieadvancedto—
wardthetallerofthetwowomen，whowasveiledandcarriedherheadveryfirmly。Heconfrontedherjustasshereachedtheelevator。Althoughhedidnotstanddi—
rectlyinherway，somethinginhisattitudecompelledhertostop。Shegavehimapiercing，defiantglancethroughthewhitescarfthatcoveredherface。Thensheliftedherhandandbrushedthescarfbackfromherhead。Therewasstillblackonherbrowsandlashes。Shewasverypaleandherfacewasdrawnanddeeplylined。Shelooked，thedoctortoldhimselfwithasinkingheart，fortyyearsold。
Hersuspicious，mystifiedstareclearedslowly。
\"Pardonme，\"thedoctormurmured，notknowingjusthowtoaddressherherebeforetheporters，\"Icameup
fromtheopera。Imerelywantedtosaygood—nighttoyou。\"
Withoutspeaking，stilllookingincredulous，shepushedhimintotheelevator。Shekeptherhandonhisarmwhilethecageshotup，andshelookedawayfromhim，frowning，asifsheweretryingtorememberorrealizesomething。
Whenthecagestopped，shepushedhimoutoftheelevatorthroughanotherdoor，whichamaidopened，intoasquarehall。Thereshesankdownonachairandlookedupathim。
\"Whydidn’tyouletmeknow？\"sheaskedinahoarsevoice。
Archieheardhimselflaughingtheold，embarrassedlaughthatseldomhappenedtohimnow。\"Oh，Iwantedtotakemychancewithyou，likeanybodyelse。It’sbeensolong，now！\"
Shetookhishandthroughherthickgloveandherheaddroppedforward。\"Yes，ithasbeenlong，\"shesaidinthesamehuskyvoice，\"andsomuchhashappened。\"
\"Andyouaresotired，andIamaclumsyoldfellowtobreakinonyouto—night，\"thedoctoraddedsympathetic—
ally。\"Forgiveme，thistime。\"Hebentoverandputhishandsoothinglyonhershoulder。Hefeltastrongshudderrunthroughherfromheadtofoot。
Stillbundledinherfurcoatasshewas，shethrewbotharmsabouthimandhuggedhim。\"Oh，Dr。Archie，DR。ARCHIE，\"——sheshookhim，——\"don’tletmego。Holdon，nowyou’rehere，\"shelaughed，breakingawayfromhimatthesamemomentandslidingoutofherfurcoat。
Sheleftitforthemaidtopickupandpushedthedoctorintothesitting—room，wheresheturnedonthelights。\"LetmeLOOKatyou。Yes；hands，feet，head，shoulders——justthesame。You’vegrownnoolder。Youcan’tsayasmuchforme，canyou？\"
Shewasstandinginthemiddleoftheroom，inawhitesilkshirtwaistandashortblackvelvetskirt，whichsome—
howsuggestedthattheyhad`cutoffherpetticoatsallroundabout。’Shelookeddistinctlyclippedandplucked。
Herhairwaspartedinthemiddleanddoneveryclosetoherhead，asshehadwornitunderthewig。Shelookedlikeafugitive，whohadescapedfromsomethinginclothescaughtupathazard。ItflashedacrossDr。Archiethatshewasrunningawayfromtheotherwomandownattheoperahouse，whohadusedherhardly。
Hetookasteptowardher。\"Ican’ttellathingintheworldaboutyou，Thea——ifImaystillcallyouthat。\"
Shetookholdofthecollarofhisovercoat。\"Yes，callmethat。Do：Iliketohearit。Youfrightenmealittle，butIexpectIfrightenyoumore。I’malwaysascarecrowafterIsingalongpartlikethat——sohigh，too。\"Sheabsentlypulledoutthehandkerchiefthatprotrudedfromhisbreastpocketandbegantowipetheblackpaintoffhereyebrowsandlashes。\"Ican’ttakeyouinmuchto—night，butImustseeyouforalittlewhile。\"Shepushedhimtoachair。\"Ishallbemorerecognizableto—morrow。Youmustn’tthinkofmeasyouseemeto—night。Comeatfourto—morrowafternoonandhaveteawithme。Canyou？
That’sgood。\"
Shesatdowninalowchairbesidehimandleanedfor—
ward，drawinghershoulderstogether。Sheseemedtohiminappropriatelyyoungandinappropriatelyold，shornofherlongtressesatoneendandofherlongrobesattheother。
\"Howdoyouhappentobehere？\"sheaskedabruptly。
\"Howcanyouleaveasilvermine？Icouldn’t！Surenobody’llcheatyou？Butyoucanexplaineverythingto—
morrow。\"Shepaused。\"Yourememberhowyousewedmeupinapoultice，once？Iwishyoucouldto—night。I
needapoultice，fromtoptotoe。Somethingverydisagree—
ablehappeneddownthere。Yousaidyouwereoutfront？
Oh，don’tsayanythingaboutit。Ialwaysknowexactlyhowitgoes，unfortunately。Iwasrotteninthebalcony。
Inevergetthat。Youdidn’tnoticeit？Probablynot，butIdid。\"
Herethemaidappearedatthedoorandhermistressrose。\"Mysupper？Verywell，I’llcome。I’daskyoutostay，doctor，buttherewouldn’tbeenoughfortwo。Theyseldomsendupenoughforone，\"——shespokebitterly。
\"Ihaven’tgotasenseofyouyet，\"——turningdirectlytoArchieagain。\"Youhaven’tbeenhere。You’veonlyan—
nouncedyourself，andtoldmeyouarecomingto—morrow。
Youhaven’tseenme，either。ThisisnotI。ButI’llbeherewaitingforyouto—morrow，mywholeworks！Good—
night，tillthen。\"Shepattedhimabsentlyonthesleeveandgavehimalittleshovetowardthedoor。
V
WHENArchiegotbacktohishotelattwoo’clockinthemorning，hefoundFredOttenburg’scardunderhisdoor，withamessagescribbledacrossthetop：\"Whenyoucomein，pleasecalluproom811，thishotel。\"Amo—
mentlaterFred’svoicereachedhimoverthetelephone。
\"Thatyou，Archie？Won’tyoucomeup？I’mhavingsomesupperandI’dlikecompany。Late？Whatdoesthatmatter？Iwon’tkeepyoulong。\"
Archiedroppedhisovercoatandsetoutforroom811。
HefoundOttenburgintheactoftouchingamatchtoachafing—dish，atatablelaidfortwoinhissitting—room。
\"I’mcateringhere，\"heannouncedcheerfully。\"Iletthewaiteroffatmidnight，afterhe’dsetmeup。You’llhavetoaccountforyourself，Archie。\"
Thedoctorlaughed，pointingtothreewine—coolersunderthetable。\"Areyouexpectingguests？\"
\"Yes，two。\"Ottenburghelduptwofingers，——\"you，andmyhigherself。He’sathirstyboy，andIdon’tinvitehimoften。Hehasbeenknowntogivemeaheadache。
Now，wherehaveyoubeen，Archie，untilthisshockinghour？\"
\"Bah，you’vebeenbanting！\"thedoctorexclaimed，pullingouthiswhiteglovesashesearchedforhishandker—
chiefandthrowingthemintoachair。Ottenburgwasineveningclothesandverypointeddressshoes。Hiswhitewaistcoat，uponwhichthedoctorhadfixedachallengingeye，wentdownstraightfromthetopbutton，andheworeacamelia。Hewasconspicuouslybrushedandtrimmedandpolished。Hissmoothlycontrolledexcitementwaswhollydifferentfromhisusualeasycordiality，thoughhehadhisface，aswellashisfigure，wellinhand。Onthe
serving—tabletherewasanemptychampagnepintandaglass。Hehadbeenhavingalittlestarter，thedoctortoldhimself，andwouldprobablyberunningonhighgearbeforehegotthrough。Therewasevennowanairofspeedabouthim。
\"Been，Freddy？\"——thedoctoratlasttookuphisques—
tion。\"IexpectI’vebeenexactlywhereyouhave。Whydidn’tyoutellmeyouwerecomingon？\"
\"Iwasn’t，Archie。\"Fredliftedthecoverofthechafing—
dishandstirredthecontents。Hestoodbehindthetable，holdingthelidwithhishandkerchief。\"Ihadneverthoughtofsuchathing。ButLandry，ayoungchapwhoplaysheraccompanimentsandwhokeepsaneyeoutforme，tele—
graphedmethatMadameRheineckerhadgonetoAtlanticCitywithabadthroat，andTheamighthaveachancetosingELSA。Shehassungitonlytwiceherebefore，andI
misseditinDresden。SoIcameon。Igotinatfourthisafternoonandsawyouregistered，butIthoughtIwouldn’tbuttin。Howluckyyougotherejustwhenshewascomingonforthis。Youcouldn’thavehitabettertime。\"
Ottenburgstirredthecontentsofthedishfasterandputinmoresherry。\"Andwherehaveyoubeensincetwelveo’clock，mayIask？\"
Archielookedratherself—conscious，ashesatdownonafragilegiltchairthatrockedunderhim，andstretchedouthislonglegs。\"Well，ifyou’llbelieveme，Ihadthebru—
talitytogotoseeher。Iwantedtoidentifyher。Couldn’twait。\"
Ottenburgplacedthecoverquicklyonthechafing—dishandtookastepbackward。\"Youdid，oldsport？Myword！
Nonebutthebravedeservethefair。Well，\"——hestoopedtoturnthewine，——\"andhowwasshe？\"
\"Sheseemedratherdazed，andprettywellusedup。Sheseemeddisappointedinherself，andsaidshehadn’tdoneherselfjusticeinthebalconyscene。\"
\"Well，ifshedidn’t，she’snotthefirst。Beastlystuffto
singrightinthere；liesjustonthe`break’inthevoice。\"
Fredpulledabottleoutoftheiceanddrewthecork。
LiftinghisglasshelookedmeaninglyatArchie。\"Youknowwho，doctor。Heregoes！\"Hedrankoffhisglasswithasighofsatisfaction。Afterhehadturnedthelamplowunderthechafing—dish，heremainedstanding，lookingpensivelydownatthefoodonthetable。\"Well，sheratherpulleditoff！Asabacker，you’reawinner，Archie。
Icongratulateyou。\"Fredpouredhimselfanotherglass。
\"Nowyoumusteatsomething，andsomustI。Here，getoffthatbirdcageandfindasteadychair。Thisstuffoughttoberathergood；headwaiter’ssuggestion。Smellsallright。\"Hebentoverthechafing—dishandbegantoservethecontents。\"Perfectlyinnocuous：mushroomsandtruf—
flesandalittlecrab—meat。Andnow，onthelevel，Archie，howdidithityou？\"
Archieturnedafranksmiletohisfriendandshookhishead。\"Itwasallmilesbeyondme，ofcourse，butitgavemeapulse。Thegeneralexcitementgotholdofme，Isup—
pose。Ilikeyourwine，Freddy。\"Heputdownhisglass。
\"Itgoestothespotto—night。SheWASallright，then？
Youweren’tdisappointed？\"
\"Disappointed？MydearArchie，that’sthehighvoicewedreamof；sopureandyetsovirileandhuman。Thatcombinationhardlyeverhappenswithsopranos。\"Otten—
burgsatdownandturnedtothedoctor，speakingcalmlyandtryingtodispelhisfriend’smanifestbewilderment。
\"Yousee，Archie，there’sthevoiceitself，sobeautifulandindividual，andthenthere’ssomethingelse；thethinginitwhichrespondstoeveryshadeofthoughtandfeeling，spontaneously，almostunconsciously。Thatcolorhastobeborninasinger，itcan’tbeacquired；lotsofbeautifulvoiceshaven’tavestigeofit。It’salmostlikeanothergift——therarestofall。Thevoicesimplyisthemindandistheheart。Itcan’tgowrongininterpretation，becauseithasinitthethingthatmakesallinterpretation。That’s
whyyoufeelsosureofher。Afteryou’velistenedtoherforanhourorso，youaren’tafraidofanything。Allthelittledreadsyouhavewithotherartistsvanish。Youleanbackandyousaytoyourself，`No，THATvoicewillneverbe—
tray。’TREULICHGEFUHRT，TREULICHBEWACHT。\"
ArchielookedenvyinglyatFred’sexcited，triumphantface。Howsatisfactoryitmustbe，hethought，toreallyknowwhatshewasdoingandnottohavetotakeitonhearsay。Hetookuphisglasswithasigh。\"Iseemtoneedagooddealofcoolingoffto—night。I’djustasliefforgettheReformPartyforonce。
\"Yes，Fred，\"hewentonseriously；\"Ithoughtitsoundedverybeautiful，andIthoughtshewasverybeautiful，too。Ineverimaginedshecouldbeasbeautifulasthat。\"
\"Wasn’tshe？Everyattitudeapicture，andalwaystherightkindofpicture，fullofthatlegendary，supernaturalthingshegetsintoit。Ineverheardtheprayersunglikethatbefore。Thatlookthatcameinhereyes；itwentrightoutthroughthebackoftheroof。Ofcourse，yougetanELSAwhocanlookthroughwallslikethat，andvisionsandGrail—knightshappennaturally。Shebecomesanabbess，thatgirl，afterLOHENGRINleavesher。She’smadetolivewithideasandenthusiasms，notwithahusband。\"Fredfoldedhisarms，leanedbackinhischair，andbegantosingsoftly：——
<\"InlichterWaffenScheine，EinRitternahteda。\">
\"Doesn’tshedie，then，attheend？\"thedoctoraskedguardedly。
Fredsmiled，reachingunderthetable。\"SomeELSASdo；
shedidn’t。Sheleftmewiththedistinctimpressionthatshewasjustbeginning。Now，doctor，here’sacoldone。\"
Hetwirledanapkinsmoothlyaboutthegreenglass，thecorkgaveandslippedoutwithasoftexplosion。\"Andnowwemusthaveanothertoast。It’suptoyou，thistime。\"
Thedoctorwatchedtheagitationinhisglass。\"Thesame，\"hesaidwithoutliftinghiseyes。\"That’sgoodenough。Ican’traiseyou。\"
Fredleanedforward，andlookedsharplyintohisface。
\"That’sthepoint；howCOULDyouraiseme？Onceagain！\"
\"Onceagain，andalwaysthesame！\"Thedoctorputdownhisglass。\"Thisdoesn’tseemtoproduceanysymp—
tomsinmeto—night。\"Helitacigar。\"Seriously，Freddy，IwishIknewmoreaboutwhatshe’sdrivingat。Itmakesmejealous，whenyouaresoinitandI’mnot。\"