Nervous and trembling, in a condition on total , the young girl suffered herself to be led into the , there to face the strange tribunal which was to pass upon her. Further resistance she felt was useless. That she realized. These men would sit there and her until she surrendered and submitted to their merciless cross-examination. Whether they had a legal right thus to invade the privacy of her home she did not know. Mr. Ricaby had gone to Albany, and there was no way of communicating with him. No doubt her uncle and Mr. Cooley knew he was away and had taken advantage of it. If only Tod would come. Perhaps he had already received the message.  
As she entered, the doctors half rose from their chairs and bowed. There was a quiet dignity in her manner that compelled their respect. Each looked intently at her, and Dr. McMutrie, leaving his seat, placed a chair for her so she might face them.
"Now, Miss ," he said, not unkindly, "please don't be alarmed. There is nothing to be afraid of. We are here only for your own good. Won't you please answer the few questions we shall ask you? It is merely a matter of form. Please take a seat, and above all, don't be nervous."
 
Paula sat down, and he returned to his place. Mr. Cooley made a sign to Mrs. Parkes to withdraw, and the was about to obey when Paula stopped her.
 
"Please don't go, Mrs. Parkes—please don't go!" she cried almost .
 
Mr. Cooley was about to object, but on a sign of from the head of the commission, the landlady was allowed to remain.
 
Mr. Cooley now proceeded to business.
 
"We ask your pardon, Miss Marsh, for what seems to be an unwarranted intrusion, but—the law prescribes our rights—that is, my client's right to take any steps he may deem necessary to see you and bring these gentlemen with him for the purpose of—er—talking over your future."
 
"My future?" she echoed. Looking around in bewilderment she demanded: "Who—who are these gentlemen?"
 
Mr. Cooley hastened to reply.
 
"Friends of your uncle's—friends of mine—of yours."
 
"What do they want?" she demanded .
 
The lawyer grew red in the face. He was at a loss to answer her very direct question. Stuttering and , he said:
 
"To—er—just to—er——" Not knowing what to say, he introduced the doctors: "Professor Bodley, of Michigan, State Psychopathic expert—also Professor of Psychotherapy, Ann Arbor—Miss Marsh."
 
Professor Bodley bowed .
 
Mr. Cooley continued the presentations:
 
"Dr. McMutrie, the expert pathologist, psychologist, and alienist—Examiner New York State institutions, etc., etc., etc., Miss Paula Marsh—my client's niece. I need not introduce Dr. Zacharie—your family physician."
 
"He is not my family physician," interrupted Paula, with quiet dignity.
 
"Not now perhaps," said Cooley . "But he was—er—now—er— I'm sorry Mr. Ricaby isn't here to explain more the object——"
 
"What is the object?" demanded Paula.
 
The lawyer a direct answer.
 
"Your interests," he replied quickly, "are perfectly[Pg 232] safe in your uncle's hands. Oh, if I could only convince you—but never mind." Turning to the doctor, he said, in a low tone:
 
"Observe the glitter of the eye when I mention the uncle. Will you proceed, gentlemen?"
 
From the time that Paula seated herself Dr. Zacharie kept his big, black eyes on her. Once or twice she turned, and, noticing the of his stare, she involuntarily. It made her restless and uncomfortable. She wondered if Parkes had succeeded in telephoning to Tod. If only he would come! She didn't know what he could do to help her. These men, no doubt, had some sort of legal authority to torture her in this way, but Tod's presence would her and help her to bear the .
 
"Doctor," said Professor Bodley pompously, "I think you had better——"
 
Dr. McMutrie began with some papers. Looking up, he said:
 
"Certainly, certainly. What is your age, Miss Marsh?"
 
"Twenty," she replied quietly.
 
The cleared his throat and went on:
 
"Miss Marsh, will you tell me why you prefer to live here under these conditions rather than go and[Pg 233] live with your uncle and aunt, where you would have so many more social advantages?"
 
The girl hesitated for a moment. Then she said:
 
"I—I prefer not to say."
 
"Is it not because you hate your Uncle James?" demanded Mr. Cooley.
 
The inspector held up his hand warningly to the lawyer.
 
"Please!"
 
"I do not hate him," said Paula. "I am afraid of him."
 
"Are you afraid of yourself?" continued the inspector. "You told Dr. Zacharie that you could not control yourself in his presence."
 
"Yes," she cried, with a little . "I—I am afraid of myself. He inspires me with hateful thoughts, and I believe that hateful thoughts injure the person who thinks them." Suddenly she turned and again found Dr. Zacharie staring at her. She stopped and almost hysterically she cried: "I—I can't answer you if—— I can't think if that man sits there and stares at me. Won't you please ask him to go?"
 
Dr. Zacharie smiled indulgently and his shoulders.
 
"Why, my dear child, I was unaware——" He shook his head significantly as if her outburst only went to confirm his .
 
Mr. Cooley , and in an undertone to the experts he whispered:
 
"Another delusion—you see." To Dr. Zacharie he said: "Sit over there, will you, doctor?"
 
"Certainly, with pleasure."
 
The physician rose, and, crossing the room, took Professor Bodley's seat at back of table where Paula could not see him.
 
"So you are afraid of yourself?" continued the inspector.
 
"No—I don't mean—that," she answered quickly.
 
"You told Dr. Zacharie so—you told us so," interrupted Mr. Cooley rudely.
 
"Yes," she said slowly, "but I meant——"
 
She stopped, not knowing what to reply.
 
"Well, never mind!" smiled the inspector. Looking at her , he asked: "Why are you afraid of your uncle?"
 
"I don't know," she replied, hesitating. "He— I'm afraid of him, that's all. I can't explain why." Laughing hysterically, she went on: "I'm at a disadvantage here. I can't seem to say even what I've said a great many times."
 
The physicians looked at each other significantly. Mr. Cooley nudged Jimmy. The examiner went on:
 
"Did you tell Dr. Zacharie that you'd rather die than let your uncle get his brother's estates?"
 
"I may have said so. It's very probable," answered Paula quietly.
 
"Did you say you'd rather he was dead?"
 
"No, I did not," she answered emphatically. Pointing to Dr. Zacharie she exclaimed indignantly: "That man has twisted my words! He'd ask me questions, and I'd answer them without thinking."
 
"Oh!" Mr. Cooley. "Then you might have said it and have forgotten that you said it?"
 
"Yes, I might," she said falteringly. "But I—I don't think it's fair to—to—to—— It isn't fair——"
 
"Naturally she would deny it," suggested Dr. Zacharie in an undertone to the other physicians.
 
"Of course," chimed in Mr. Cooley. "I think we've established the facts that she fears him, hates him, and wishes he was dead. That alone is ground enough for our application."
 
Suddenly there was a in the hall outside. The door was flung open and Tod appeared, cool and self-possessed.
 
"Thank God!" exclaimed Paula, overjoyed.[Pg 236]
 
"Hello, everybody!" grinned Tod. "Why, I didn't know you were giving a party, Miss Marsh!"
 
"What do you want here?" demanded Jimmy, trying to prevent his stepson's further entrance.
 
But Paula jumped up and ran eagerly to greet him. Never had he been so welcome. In one instant her anxiety and had disappeared. Her manner was changed. Smiling, she extended her hand:
 
"I'm so glad to see you, Mr. Chase—so glad! Won't you come in?"
 
Mr. Cooley frowned.
 
"It's impossible!" he said emphatically.
 
"You can't stay here," said Mr. Marsh. "Don't you see we're engaged?"
 
"Yes—yes—Jimmy," grinned Tod.
 
"You can't stay here, Mr. Chase," said Mr. Cooley sternly.
 
Tod looked at Paula inquiringly.
 
"Please don't go," she said, in an undertone.
 
"But he must go," said Mr. Cooley, who overheard.
 
Tod laughed, and, going to a side table, laid down his hat and . Coming back he said, with a careless laugh:
 
"My dear old Cooley, when a lady invites me to stay and that lady happens to be the hostess, one[Pg 237] doesn't need any lawyer's advice on the subject—one simply stays."
 
He looked across at the table where the commission were sitting, and, surprised to see them, he turned to Paula for an explanation.
 
"What's the game?" he asked. "I don't see any chips—can I get in? Say, this looks like a nice little party, Miss Marsh. I'm glad I came."
 
Mr. Marsh, who was fast losing his temper, went up to him and took him aside.
 
"Now, Tod," he said angrily, "you must really go! Don't you understand this is a—a—very sad—— Please go at once."
 
"Behave yourself, Jimmy," laughed Tod, shaking his stepfather off.
 
"Damn!" ejaculated Jimmy.
 
"Young man," said Mr. Cooley sternly, "this is very serious—believe me."
 
Tod grinned.
 
"That's the trouble with you, Cooley. You take things too seriously."
 
"But this is serious, sir," thundered the lawyer.
 
"All right— I'll be serious, too," retorted the young man. "What's the trouble?"
 
"Your son?" inquired Dr. McMutrie .
 
"My wife's son," replied Jimmy sourly.
 
The examiner rose.
 
"Just a moment, sir," he said.
 
Drawing Tod aside, he crossed the room with him, in a whisper, while the others watched in silence, Paula in an agony of . Suddenly the young man started and exclaimed:
 
"Good Lord! No—no—no—not for a moment. It's a lie!"
 
For all reply Dr. McMutrie handed the young man his visiting card.
 
"I don't care a d——" cried Tod fully. "Excuse me, sir—excuse me—I'll—I'll—well, I'll be— Pardon me, won't you, sir? My feelings got away with me."
 
The examiner bowed and returned to his seat.
 
"You'd better go home, Todhunter," said Jimmy, .
 
"No, James," retorted his stepson calmly. "I think I'll stay here."
 
"But this is a private commission, sir!" roared Mr. Cooley angrily.
 
"Well, let's make it public," retorted Tod quickly. Turning to Paula, he said: "Would you like me to stay here, Miss Marsh?"
 
"Oh—please—please!" she said .
 
"It's impossible!" shouted the lawyer angrily. "I object."
 
"Nothing is impossible when a lady requests it," rejoined Tod . "Go on with the examination! I'm going to stay—don't trouble, Cooley—I'll find a chair."
 
He looked around and took a seat near the fireplace. Mr. Cooley, unable to control himself, moved towards him with threatening gesture. In another moment he would have attempted to eject him forcibly, but Jimmy restrained him:
 
"Better let him stay," he whispered.
 
"Very well," the lawyer, "but young man—perfect silence!"
 
"Go on now," grinned Tod, "go on—never mind me."
 
The examiner resumed the questioning:
 
"Miss Marsh—you have stated on several occasions that when you came in for your father's estate you would give large sums of money to various charities?"
 
"Yes."
 
"Did you say you were going to"—he stopped and looked at a paper in his hand. Reading, he went on—"found an institution for the development of the self in animals?"
 
"No!" she replied, with an shake of her head.
 
Dr. Zacharie threw up his hands with a gesture meant to express utter disbelief in her denial.
 
"The money," went on Paula, "was to be for the prevention of animal torture in the name of science."
 
Mr. Cooley now took a hand in the cross-examination.
 
"Isn............