Dr. Hall found his voice.

“But the expense, my dear sir.”  His voice rose.  “The expense!  It will be colossal!”

“Money doesn’t worry me any,” explained Julius simply.

Dr. Hall turned an appealing face to Sir James, who smiled slightly.

“Mr. Hersheimmer is very well off—­very well off indeed.”

The doctor’s glance came back to Julius with a new and subtle quality in it.  This was no longer an eccentric young fellow with a habit of falling off trees.  The doctor’s eyes held the deference accorded to a really rich man.

“Very remarkable plan.  Very remarkable,” he murmured.  “The movies—­of course!  Your American word for the kinema.  Very interesting.  I fear we are perhaps a little behind the times over here in our methods.  And you really mean to carry out this remarkable plan of yours.”

“You bet your bottom dollar I do.”

The doctor believed him—­which was a tribute to his nationality.  If an Englishman had suggested such a thing, he would have had grave doubts as to his sanity.

“I cannot guarantee a cure,” he pointed out.  “Perhaps I ought to make that quite clear.”

“Sure, that’s all right,” said Julius.  “You just trot out Jane, and leave the rest to me.”

“Jane?”

“Miss Janet Vandemeyer, then.  Can we get on the long distance to your place right away, and ask them to send her up; or shall I run down and fetch her in my car?”

The doctor stared.

“I beg your pardon, Mr. Hersheimmer.  I thought you understood.”

“Understood what?”

“That Miss Vandemeyer is no longer under my care.”

CHAPTER XV

TUPPENCE RECEIVES A PROPOSAL

Julius sprang up.

“What?”

“I thought you were aware of that.”

“When did she leave?”

“Let me see.  To-day is Monday, is it not?  It must have been last Wednesday—­why, surely—­yes, it was the same evening that you—­er—­fell out of my tree.”

“That evening?  Before, or after?”

“Let me see—­oh yes, afterwards.  A very urgent message arrived from Mrs. Vandemeyer.  The young lady and the nurse who was in charge of her left by the night train.”

Julius sank back again into his chair.

“Nurse Edith—­left with a patient—­I remember,” he muttered.  “My God, to have been so near!”

Dr. Hall looked bewildered.

“I don’t understand.  Is the young lady not with her aunt, after all?”

Tuppence shook her head.  She was about to speak when a warning glance from Sir James made her hold her tongue.  The lawyer rose.

“I’m much obliged to you, Hall.  We’re very grateful for all you’ve told us.  I’m afraid we’re now in the position of having to track Miss Vandemeyer anew.  What about the nurse who accompanied her; I suppose you don’t know where she is?”