There was an awkward interval.  I glanced at van Tuiver, and I saw that he was leaning forward, staring at me.  I thought he was about to speak, when Dr. Gibson broke in, excitedly, “All this is beside the mark!  We have a serious emergency to face, and we are not getting anywhere.  As the older of the physicians in charge of this case——­”

And he went on to give me a lecture on the subject of authority.  He talked for five minutes, ten minutes—­I lost all track of the time.  I had suddenly begun to picture how I would act and what I would say when I went into Sylvia’s room.  What a state must Sylvia be in, while we sat out here in the blazing mid-day sun, discussing her right to freedom and knowledge!

28.  “I have always been positive,” Dr. Gibson was saying, “but the present discussion has made me more positive than ever.  As the older of the physicians in charge of this case, I say most emphatically that the patient shall not be told!”

I could not stand him any longer.  “I am going to tell the patient,” I said.

“You shall not tell her!”

“But how will you prevent me?”

“You shall not see her!”

“But she is determined to see me!”

“She will be told that you are not there.”

“And how long do you imagine that that will satisfy her?”

There was a pause.  They looked at van Tuiver, expecting him to speak.  And so I heard once more his cold, deliberate voice.  “We have done all we can.  There can no longer be any question as to the course to be taken.  Mrs. Abbott will not return to my home.”

“What?” I cried.  I stared at him, aghast.  “What do you mean?”

“I mean what I say—­that you will not be taken back to the island.”

“But where will I be taken?”

“You will be taken to the mainland.”

I stared at the others.  No one gave a sign.  At last I whispered, “You would dare?”

“You leave us no other alternative,” replied the master.

“You—­you will practically kidnap me!” My voice must have been rather wild at that moment.

“You left my home of your own free will.  I think I need hardly point out to you that I am not compelled to invite you back to it.”

“And what will Sylvia——­” I stopped; appalled at the vista the words opened up.

“My wife,” said van Tuiver, “will ultimately choose between her husband and her most remarkable acquaintance.”

“And you gentlemen?” I turned to the others.  “You would give your sanction to this outrageous action?”

“As the older of the physicians in charge of this case——­” began Dr. Gibson.

I turned to van Tuiver again.  “When your wife finds out what you have done to me—­what will you answer?”

“We will deal with that situation when we come to it.”

“Of course,” I said, “you understand that sooner or later I shall get word to her!”