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114 coolly, and with a note of authority. But there was something about her I couldn't help liking.

"Baddie Pretlow," I told her.

"And you have no idea of what you are to do?" she demanded.

"The main point seemed to be for me to keep my mouth shut!" I retorted. For one short second the faintest trace of a smile played about her clear-cut lips.

"I believe you are to be a patient of mine," she explained. It was clear that they'd also impressed on Alicia Ledwidge that the main point was for her to keep her mouth shut. So I decided to try her out.

"Excuse me, but are you a real trained nurse?" I asked her, as she crossed to a mahogany table on the right. She stopped and looked up quickly, but there was no change in her manner.

"Of course," was her quiet reply.

She seemed the right sort, that woman, and for the life of me I couldn't place her in that bunch of copperheads. She didn't look like the sort of woman who could be on their side. And I'd a feeling that she was the sort I'd rather have on my side. "And as a patient, what am I supposed to do?" I inquired.

"What most patients do. Go to bed!"