morally. No, Death is far better; and in my case Death has proved
a good friend, for it has given me the spotless soul of the woman
I loved, which is far fairer than her body was."

"But, unfortunately, intangible!" said Gervase, satirically.

The Doctor looked at him keenly and coldly.

"Do not be too sure of that, my friend! Never talk about what you
do not understand; you only wander astray. The spiritual world is
a blank to you, so do not presume to judge of what you will never
realize TILL REALIZATION IS FORCED UPON YOU!"

He uttered the last words with slow and singular emphasis.

"Forced upon me?" began Gervase. "What do you mean? ..."

He broke off abruptly, for at that moment Denzil Murray emerged
from the doorway of the hotel, and came towards them with an
unsteady, swaying step like that of a drunken man.

"You had better go in to the Princess," he said, staring at
Gervase with a wild smile; "she is waiting for you!"

"What's the matter with you, Denzil?" inquired Dr. Dean, catching
him by the arm as he made a movement to go on and pass them.

Denzil stopped, frowning impatiently.

"Matter? Nothing! What should be the matter?"