First Aid 263
that a few minutes before our arrival, a lady and gentle-
man had called and were very anxious to see me. They
would come back in half an hour. I couldn’t imagine
who on earth it could be, and the matter slipped from
my mind. I was hot and eager to get out of the dis-
gusting atmosphere of those rooms. I wouldn't let
Lala come in; but I found that I wasn’t strong enough
to pack my stuff. The smell of the den was foul beyond
all belief.
Lou has not described a hundredth part of the dark
abominations which had become habitual.
In fact, I was overcome by the feetor. I had no
strength left. I sunk helplessly into a chair, and began
to look feebly about me for the heroin to buck me up.
I must have gone off into a sort of swoon; for I
don’t know how it happened, but the fresh, cold air
was blowing on my face. Our things had been packed
as if by magic, and had been taken out to the motor.
The bill had been paid.
As I set foot in the car, I heard the landlady asking
what she should do if the lady and gentleman came
back. I gave the address of my new rooms. As I
stumbled into the seat the clear incisive tones of Lala
rang across. ,
“ You'd better tell them that Sir Peter’s far from well.
He will probably not be able to see any one this week.”
I sat limply, shaken by the vibrations of the car.
I was an empty vessel; but I felt that, as we got out
of the twisted network of streets, and the automobile
bounded forward, I was escaping from some infernal
labyrinth.
I found Lou at the new rooms. She was sitting in a
big lounge chair holding tight to the arms. Her face
told the same tale as my own. We felt that we had come
through a great illness by a miracle.. It struck me as
dreadfully unfair that instead of being gently nursed
back to health, a demand was to be made upon us for
the exercise. of the utmost moral and physical strength
and courage.
D.D.F. S