“Doubtless,” he answered; “but scarcely by me. Still, it was buried, I suppose.”

“You don’t know?”

“O, my dear sir! Think for a moment. White Square! and its reputation—but perhaps you are ignorant there. There are ways and places—for disposing economically of these superfluous defunct. I don’t assert anything; but I daresay you have read of them. The child died, that is all I can certainly state.”

I came to myself, and held out my hand gratefully.

“I am infinitely obliged to you, sir,” I said. “You have enlightened me on a very important point; and—and I am infinitely obliged to you.”

“Not at all,” he said. “Would you mind leaving your name and address?”

I hesitated a moment—and gave them.

“H’m! dear me!” he said. “There’s a person of that very name a patient of mine. Well, good-morning to you.”

Out in the street, I moved on like one in a dream.

“Dead!” I thought—“dead!”