W HEN Mrs. Kenyon recovered from her swoon, she saw Dr. Fox bending over her.
"You are recovering," he said. "You mustn\'t give way like this, my good madam."
It all came back to her—her desertion, and the terrible imprisonment which awaited her.
"Where is my husband—where is Mr. Kenyon?" she demanded imperatively.
Dr. Fox shrugged his shoulders.
"I wish you to send him here at once, or to take me to him."
"Quite impossible, my dear madam. He has gone."
"Mr. Kenyon gone, and left me here!"
"It is for your own good, my dear madam. I hope soon to restore you to him."
It was as she expected, and the first shock being over, she took the announcement calmly. But her soul was stirred with anger and resentment, for she was a woman of spirit.
"This is all a base plot," she said scornfully. "Has Mr. Kenyon—have you—the assurance to assert that my mind is disordered?"
"Unhappily there is no doubt of it," said the doctor, in a tone of affected regret. "Your present excitement shows it."
"My excitement! Who would not be excited at being entrapped in such a way? But I quite comprehend Mr. Kenyon\'s motives. How much does he pay you for your share in this conspiracy?"
"He pays your board on my usual terms," said Dr. Fox composedly. "I have agreed to do my best to cure you of your unhappy malady, but I can do little while you suffer yourself to become so excited."
His tone was significant, and contained a menace, but for this Mrs. Kenyon cared little. She had been blind, but she was clear-sighted now. She felt that it was her husband\'s object to keep her in perpetual imprisonment. Thus only could his ends be attained.
She was silent for a moment. She perceived that craft must be met with craft, and that it was best to control her excitement. She would speak her mind, however, to avoid being misunderstood.
"I will not judge you, Dr. Fox," she said. "Possibly Mr. Kenyon may have deceived you for his own purposes. If you are really skilled in mental diseases you will soon perceive that I am as sane as you are yourself."
"When I make that discovery I will send you back to your husband," said the doctor with oily suavity.
"I shall never return to my husband," said Mrs. Kenyon coldly. "I only ask to be released. I hope your promise is made in good faith."
"Certainly it is; but, my dear madam, let me beg you to lay aside this prejudice against your husband, who sincerely regrets the necessity of your temporary seclusion from the world."
Mrs. Kenyon smiled bitterly.
"I understand Mr. Kenyon probably better than you do," she said. "We won\'t discuss him now. But if I am to remain here, even for a short time, I have a favor to ask."
"You may ask it, certainly," said the doctor, who did not, however, couple with the permission any promise to grant the request.
"Or, rather, I have two requests to make," said Mrs. Kenyon.
"Name them."
"The first is, to be supplied with pens, ink, and paper, that I may communicate with my friends."
"Meaning your husband?"
"He is not my friend, but I shall address one letter to him."
"Very well. You shall have what you require. You can hand the letters to me, and I will have them posted."
"You will not read them?"
"It is our usual rule to read all letters written from this establishment, but in your case we will waive the rule, and allow them to go unread. What is your second request?"
"I should like a room alone," said Mrs. Kenyon, glancing at Cleopatra, who was sitting on the side of the bed listening to the conversation.
"I am sorry that I can\'t grant that request," said the doctor. "The fact is, my establishment is too full to give anyone a single room."
"But you won\'t keep me in the same room with a――"
"What do you call me?" interrupted Cleopatra angrily. "Do you mean to say I am crazy? You ought to feel proud of having the Queen of Egypt for a room-mate. I will make you the Mistress of the Robes."
All this was ludicrous enough, considering the shabby attire of the self-styled queen, but Mrs. Kenyon did not feel in a laughing humor. She did not reply, but glanced meaningl............