“Platitudes!” ejaculated Mr. Prohack.

“Certainly,” agreed the quack.  “But I’ve told you before that it’s by telling everybody what everybody knows that I earn my living.”

“I’ll get up,” said Mr. Prohack.

“And not too soon,” said the quack.  “Get up by all means and deal with your worries.  All worries can be dealt with.”

“It doesn’t make life any better,” said Mr. Prohack.

“Nothing makes life any better, except death—­and there’s a disgusting rumour that there is no death.  Where shall I find a pencil, my dear fellow?  I’ve forgotten mine, and I want to prescribe Mrs. Prohack’s tonic.”

“In the boudoir there,” said Mr. Prohack.  “What the deuce are you smiling at?”

“I’m smiling because I’m so glad to find you aren’t so wise as you look.”  And Dr. Veiga disappeared blithely into the boudoir.

Almost at the same moment Mimi knocked and entered.  She entered, stared harshly at Mr. Prohack, and then the corners of her ruthless mouth twitched and loosened and she began to cry.

“Doctor,” called Mr. Prohack, “come here at once.”  The doctor came.  “You say all worries can be dealt with?  How should you deal with this one?”

The doctor dropped a slip of paper on to the bed and walked silently out of the room, precisely as Charlie had done.

IV

In regard to the effect of the sermon of Dr. Veiga on Mr. Prohack, it was as if Mr. Prohack had been a desk with many drawers and one drawer open, and the sermon had been dropped into the drawer and the drawer slammed to and nonchalantly locked.  The drawer being locked, Mr. Prohack turned to the weeping figure in front of him, which suddenly ceased to weep and became quite collected and normal.

“Now, my child,” said Mr. Prohack, “I have just been informed that everything has a consequence.  I’ve seen the consequence.  What is the thing?”

He was rather annoyed by Mimi’s tears, but in his dangerous characteristic desire to please, he could not keep kindness out of his tone, and Mimi, reassured and comforted, began feebly to smile, and also Mr. Prohack remarked that her mouth was acquiring firmness again.

“I ought to tell you in explanation of anything of a personal nature that I may have said to him in your presence, that the gentleman just gone is my medical adviser, and I have no secrets from him; in that respect he stands equal with you and above everybody else in the world without exception.  So you must excuse my freedom in directing his attention to you.”

“It’s I who ought to apologise,” said Miss Warburton, positively.  “But the fact is I hadn’t the slightest idea that you weren’t alone.  I was just a little bit upset because I understand that you want to get rid of me.”

“Ah!” murmured Mr. Prohaek, “who put that notion into your absurd head?”

He knew he was exercising his charm, but he could not help it.