“He seems so nervous; things upset him so easily.  Yet, after we had taken care of Miss Langdale and matters had quieted down, I thought I might get some idea of the cause of the fracas and asked him if he knew of any reason.  Why, he looked at me kind of blankly, and I swear he acted as though he had almost forgotten it already.  I tell you, he’s not right.”

Remembering our own experience, I glanced significantly at Craig.  “Korsakoff’s syndrome?” I queried, laconically.  “Another example of a mind confused even on recent events?”

Kennedy, however, was more interested in Chase.  “What did Miss Hackstaff do?” he asked.

“I don’t know.  I missed her.  When I got out again she was gone.”

“Pick her up again,” directed Craig.  “Perhaps you’ll get her at her place.  And see, this time, if you can get what I asked you.”

“I’ll try,” returned Chase, much pleased at the words of commendation which Craig added as he left us again.

On what errand Chase had gone I could not guess, except that it had something to do with this strange woman who had so unexpectedly entered the case.  Nor was Craig any more communicative.  There were evidently many problems which only events could clear up even in his mind.  Though he did not say anything, I knew that he was as impatient as I was, and as Leslie, too, who called up once or twice to learn whether he had discovered anything.  There was nothing to do but wait.

It was early in the afternoon that the telephone rang and I answered it.  It was Chase calling Kennedy.  I heard only half the conversation and there was not much of that, but I knew that something was about to happen.  Craig hastily summoned a cab, then in rapid succession called up Doctor Aitken and Leslie, for whom we stopped as our driver shot us over to the Forum Apartments.

There was no ceremony or unnecessary explanation about our presence, as Kennedy entered and directed Miss Langdale to bring her patients into the little office-study of Doctor Wardlaw.

Miss Langdale obeyed reluctantly.  When she returned I felt that it was appreciable that a change had taken place.  Mrs. Wardlaw, at least, was improved.  She was still ill, but she seemed to take a more lively interest in what was going on about her.  As for Doctor Wardlaw, however, I could not see that there had been any improvement in him.  His nervousness had not abated.  Kato, whom Kennedy summoned at the same time, preserved his usual imperturbable exterior.  Miss Langdale, in spite of the incident of the morning, was quite as solicitous as ever of her charges.

We had not long to wait for Doctor Aitken.  He arrived, inquiring anxiously what had happened, although Kennedy gave none of us any satisfaction immediately as to the cause of his quick action.  Aitken fidgeted uneasily, glancing from Kennedy to Leslie, then to Miss Langdale, and back to Kennedy, without reading any explanation in the faces.  I knew that Craig was secretly taking his time both for its effect on those present and to give Chase a chance.