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know her own name, or where she had come from, or where she was. She

couldn't even speak her own tongue."

"But surely all this is most unusual?" put in Julius.

"No, my dear sir. Quite normal under the circumstances. Severe shock to the

nervous system. Loss of memory proceeds nearly always on the same lines. I

suggested a specialist, of course. There's a very good man in Paris--makes a

study of these cases--but Mrs. Vandemeyer opposed the idea of publicity that

might result from such a course."

I can imagine she would," said Sir James grimly.

I fell in with her views. There is a certain notoriety given to these cases. And the

girl was very young--nineteen, I believe. It seemed a pity that her infirmity should

be talked about--might damage her prospects. Besides, there is no special

treatment to pursue in such cases. It is really a matter of waiting."

Waiting?"

Yes, sooner or later, the memory will return--as suddenly as it went. But in all

probability the girl will have entirely forgotten the intervening period, and will

take up life where she left off--at the sinking of the Lusitania."

And when do you expect this to happen?"

The doctor shrugged his shoulders.

Ah, that I cannot say. Sometimes it is a matter of months, sometimes it has been

known to be as long as twenty years! Sometimes another shock does the trick.

One restores what the other took away."

"Another shock, eh?" said Julius thoughtfully.

"Exactly. There was a case in Colorado----" The little man's voice trailed on,

voluble, mildly enthusiastic.

Julius did not seem to be listening. He had relapsed into his own thoughts and

was frowning. Suddenly he came out of his brown study, and hit the table such a

resounding bang with his fist that every one jumped, the doctor most of all.

"I've got it! I guess, doc, I'd like your medical opinion on the plan I'm about to

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The Secret Adversary