"It is not absurd," she cried, clasping his arm convulsively with both
hands so that she hurt him, and looking fiercely at him out of hot,
fevered eyes. "It is the most reasonable thing in the world. It must be
true. There can be no mistake. God would not let me be so deceived. He is
not so cruel. Don't tell me anything else."

She was in such a hysterical condition that he saw he must be very
gentle.

"But, Madeline, you will admit that if he is not the greatest of all
discoverers, he must be a dangerous quack. His process might kill you or
make you insane. It must be very perilous."

"If I knew there were a hundred chances that it would kill me to one that
it would succeed, do you think I would hesitate?" she cried.

The utmost concession that he could obtain her consent to was that he
should first visit this Dr. Heidenhoff alone, and make some inquiries of
and about him.




CHAPTER X.


The next day he called at 79 ---- Street. There was a modest shingle
bearing the name "Dr. Gustav Heidenhoff" fastened up on the side of the
house, which was in the middle of a brick block. On announcing that he
wanted to see the doctor, he was ushered into a waiting-room, whose walls