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 no account be disturbed. If you have any message for her, I shall be pleased to deliver it when she is strong enough to attend to business."

"I come from Scotland Yard, madam," said the man respectfully, "and my business is with Miss Semaphore herself. I shall not detain her long, but I must see her."

"Quite impossible," said the medical woman with decision. "The doctor would never allow it. She is extremely restless and feverish, and has just been given a sleeping draught, so that it would be most dangerous to rouse her. But what do you want with her?"

"She is required to give evidence in a case."

Her conversation with Mrs. Dumaresq flashed through the mind of the medical woman. Could it be that her theory was right after all? Without considering what she was saying, she asked with an air of confidence and knowledge:

"Is it the baby farming case?"

"Yes," said the stranger.

"My good gracious heavens!" said the medical woman, sitting down abruptly and heavily on the hall chair. "Who would