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 went to my dentist yesterday and talked to him about it. I got him interested in it—

"He's stopped three of your teeth; he ought to know you better," Mr. James complained.

"He agreed that if I'd take the gas, he'd give it to me."

"He ought to be ashamed of himself," said Mr. James with conviction.

"Not a bit of it!" cried Hilary Vance. "If an ordinary man under its influence sees visions, think of what I shall see!"

"I've told you what you'll see," said Mr. James coldly. "At what time do you commit this folly?"

"In the evening. I have to take the gas fasting, of course; so I shan't have any dinner. You'd better meet me at the Gabrinus at a quarter to nine," said Hilary Vance.

Mr. James agreed; and for the rest of tea Hilary Vance talked with eloquent enthusiasm of the visions he was going to see. When they had finished, Pollyooly cleared the table and went back to her seat on the dais. Mr. James rose and bade them good-by.

At the door he paused and said in a very bitter