miracles."
"As for McCann," he turned his gaze to me somberly, "he is both intelligent and loyal. I will not condemn
him unheard. And I say to you, Dr. Lowell, that if you had shown more frankness to me this night-Dr.
Braile would not be dead."
I winced at that-there was too much truth in it. I was racked by regret and grief and helpless rage. If I
had not let my cursed pride control me, if I had told them all that I could of my encounter with the
doll-maker, explained why there were details I was unable to tell, given myself over to Braile for a
cleansing counter-hypnotization-no, if I had but accepted Ricori's offer of protection, or Braile's to
watch over me while asleep-then this could not have happened.
I looked into the study and saw there Ricori's nurse. I could hear whispering outside the study