and shining eyes. "Oh, sir, what has happened to Miss June?" he cried. "Tell me—please!"
Sir Arthur, his mission concrete in his mind, brought a steady eye to bear upon the young man before he slowly replied: "She has had a mental breakdown, and we were able to arrange for her to be taken late last night to St. Jude's Hospital." He then turned to the old man, who had either grasped the news more slowly, or was less affected by it, and said: "It's a case for careful treatment, in the opinion of the doctor who saw her soon after she arrived at my house, and upon whose advice she was sent to the Hospital. I am very sorry now that I did not communicate with you myself!"
It was the young man, however, as Sir Arthur did not fail to notice, who seemed really to be troubled by what had befallen this unfortunate girl. S. Gedge Antiques, for his part, soon shewed that his inmost thoughts were centered upon something else.
"Can you tell me, sir," he said, with an excitement he did not try to conceal, "whether the picture she took away with her is quite safe?"
Sir Arthur looked hard at the old man before he answered: "Mr. Gedge, the picture is perfectly safe."
"Thank God!" The exclamation of S. Gedge Antiques was not the less heartfelt for being involuntary.
"And Miss June?" interposed William huskily. "Is she?. . . Is she. . .?" He was too upset to frame his question.
"She is very ill indeed, I'm afraid," said Sir Arthur, in a kind tone, "but she is in the best possible hands. Anything that can be done for her will be done—I am sure you can count upon that."
