She gazed into my eyes, ceasing to struggle, and then said more quietly: "Yes—yes, give it me quick."
It was a case for bromide, and I turned away at once to go to my surgery.
"You will lie exactly as you are, mademoiselle," I said peremptorily, "until I return."
I left the cabin and descended, and I think I was not gone more than ten minutes. When Mlle. Châteray had taken the draught, I turned to her maid: "She will be quieter now," I said. "Let me know if anything further develops," and I moved towards the door. Miss Morland stood in my way.
For the first time I observed her. Her cloak had fallen from her, leaving her fine figure in the full illumination of the light. Her head was set well back above the eloquent lines of a strong throat and the square shoulders underneath. The lace over her bosom stirred with her breathing, and to my fancy at the moment she was as a statue into which life was flowing suddenly. I saw this before I met her gaze, and the calm beauty of that confirmed my fancy. She moved then and opened the door for me.
"You have promised she shall be landed?" she said in a low voice.
"Madam, I would promise anything in such a case," I answered.
A faint smile passed over her face, for we were now outside the cabin and in the ladies' boudoir.
"You can promise relief, then, I understand?" she queried.
"She will probably be all right to-night, though I cannot say the hysteria will not recur," I replied.