"What was it?"
"The bath at Kous had nothing to do with it. As to sunstroke, you never had it. You began to feel unwell—didn't you?—soon after you started for your voyage?"
"Yes."
"Hasn't it ever struck you as very strange that you, a young man in magnificent health, living an outdoor life in one of the finest climates in the world, should be struck down by this mysterious illness?"
"Mysterious?"
"Well, wasn't it?"
"It was very odd. I always thought that, of course."
He leaned forward a little in his chair, fixing his eyes on Isaacson.
"What was my illness?"
"You've been suffering from lead-poisoning," said Isaacson, slowly, and with an effort.