She accepted; the gentleman seemed old and ill. He asked her to
take his arm. She did so, and very soon she felt as if her strength
had gone from her; a cold shiver crept over her; she trembled and
tottered; but with all that she did not find her sensations
disagreeable exactly or alarming; so little so, indeed, that she
never thought of letting go the gentleman's arm. Her head buzzed,
and a kind of darkness came over her. Then all seemed to clear, and
she found herself alone near the police-station, remembering
nothing. Being asked to further describe the gentleman, she said he
was tall and dark, with a pleasant voice and wonderful eyes, that
made you feel you must do whatever he wished. The police have made
inquiries, but after such a lapse of time it is not surprising that
no trace of him can be found."

"Well?" asked Embro, when Lefevre had raised his eyes from the paper.
"What do you think of it?"

"Curious," said Lefevre. "I can't say more, since I know nothing of it
but this. Have you read it, Julius?"

"No," said Julius; "I hate what people call news; and when I take up a
paper, it's only to look at the Weather Forecasts." Lefevre handed him
the paper, which he took with an unconcealed look of repulsion. "If it's
some case of disease," said he, "it will make me ill."

"Oh no," said Lefevre; "it's not painful, but it's curious;" and so
Julius set himself to read it.

"But come," said Embro, posing the question with his forefinger; "do you
believe that story, Lefevre?"