Anna the Adventuress

It was nearly half an hour before they dared ask him the question.

"Will he live?"

The doctor shook his head.

"It is very doubtful," he said. "You must send for the police at once,

you know. You, sir," he added, turning to Brendon, "had better take my

card round to the police station in Werner Street and ask that

Detective Dorling be sent round here at once on urgent business."

"Is it necessary to send for the police?" Anna asked.

"Absolutely," the doctor answered, "and the sooner the better. This is

a case either of suicide or murder. The police are concerned in it in

either event."

"Please go then, Mr. Brendon," Anna said. "You will come back, won't

you?"

He nodded cheerfully.

"Of course I will," he answered.

The doctor and Anna were left alone. Every moment or two he bent over

his patient. He seemed to avoid meeting Anna's eyes as much as

possible.

"Does he live here?" he asked her presently.

"No."

"Far away?"

"I have no idea," Anna answered.

"Who is the tenant of these rooms?" he inquired.

"I am."

"You will have no objection to his remaining here?" he asked. "A move

of any sort would certainly be fatal."

"Of course not," Anna said. "Had he better have a nurse? I will be

responsible for anything of that sort."

"If he lives through the next hour," the doctor answered, "I will send

some one. Do you know anything of his friends? Is there any one for

whom we ought to send?"

"I know very little of him beyond his name," Anna answered. "I know

nothing whatever of his friends or his home. He used to live in a

boarding-house in Russell Square. That is where I first knew him."

The doctor looked at her thoughtfully. Perhaps for the first time he

realized that Anna was by no means an ordinary person. His patient was

distinctly of a different order of life. It was possible that his

first impressions had not been correct.

"Your name, I believe, is----"

"Pellissier," Anna answered.

"Allow me," the doctor said, "to give you a word of advice, Miss

Pellissier. A detective will be here in a few moments to make

inquiries into this affair. You may have something to conceal, you may

not. Tell the whole truth. It always comes out sooner or later. Don't

try to shield anybody or hide anything. It is bad policy."

Anna smiled very faintly.

"I thank you for your advice," she said. "I can assure you that it was

quite unnecessary. I know less about this affair perhaps than you

suppose. What I do know I shall have no hesitation in telling anyone

who has the right to ask."

"Just so," the doctor remarked drily. "And if I were you I would keep

away from the fire."