“‘If you want my opinion, Mr..., these unfortunate occurrences are the work of Dr. Sterling, Junior. An excellent example of a man who has devoted the best years of his active life entirely to his profession. To speak plainly, sexual abstinence has caused an inversion of that natural energy by which a man obtains his balance, and is responsible for his aberration. When a man devotes himself entirely to any profession he in time becomes somewhat unbalanced. If you understand...?’
“‘You bet I do, Dr. Hoffbein. You are in a rotten position, and all the evidence you have been trying to build up against young Sterling in every staff meeting for a week won’t hold water fifteen minutes if you can’t explain to me by four o’clock about the doll....’
“He stiffened and replied: ‘I’m going to Miss Standish’s funeral.’
“‘See you there, then,’ I said, rising.
“At the door I turned and his eyes were spraying venom on me like a snake’s fangs, and he says:
“‘What patients tell me in confidence, I will never....’
“‘Reveal on the gallows,’ I finished slowly. ‘Think it over, Doctor! You’ll be guarded till you make up your mind.’
“Then I shut the door, hard, and came here.”
“Who is watching him?”
“A local man the dick at the Roosevelt got me. It’s five to three. You’d better be moving....”