Ah, but the doll-maker had spoken truth when she called me fool!
When Braile appeared, I was able to meet him calmly. Hardly had I greeted him when Ricori's nurse
called up to say her patient was wide-awake and anxious to see me.
I said to Braile: "This is fortunate. Come along. It will save me from telling the same story twice over."
He asked: "What story?"
"My interview with Madame Mandilip."
He said, incredulously: "You've seen her!"
"I spent the afternoon with her. She is most interesting. Come and hear about it."
I led the way rapidly to the Annex, deaf to his questions. Ricori was sitting up. I made a brief
examination. Although still somewhat weak, he could be discharged as a patient. I congratulated him on