Page:The Mystery of Madeline Le Blanc (1900).djvu/43

Rh office, hoping with every step that the doctor had come by this time, for it was no longer early.

The door of the office was open, but no one was within; the dwarfish person had disappeared. What was to be done? Nothing but wait. So she seated herself at the table and waited. After the lapse of about twenty minutes, Doctor Satiani entered. He was pale, had a fresh red scar on his left cheek, and looked fully ten years older.

"O doctor, come to Monsieur Le Blanc's at once! Madeline is no better. Will you come now? Be so good. All night she lay without moving a muscle."

The doctor, who had removed his hat, took it from the table, and placing several vials in his pocket, said, “Come, I will go with you this minute."

As they left the office it grew darker. For the time of year, the early morning had been close and sultry; and from the preparation the clouds, winds and thunder were making, it was evident there would soon be a storm. Irène walked a few steps ahead of the doctor, and turned now and then to see if he were catching up, that