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"Well"--for a second Anstice hesitated, then resolved to speak plainly "To tell you the truth, it would have been quite possible for her to beThe woman, is a servant in the household of Mrs Carstairs; but she's not only absolutely devoted to her mistress, but is also unable to write even her name"

"What proof have you of that?" The question shot out so abruptly that Anstice was genuinely startled

"Proof? Well, the woman herself admits it, and certainly she has never been seen to write so much as a word----"

"That does not prove she could not write quite well if she wished to," said Clive quietly "People do strange things in this queer world of ours, Dr Anstice, as I expect you know considerably better than I do Have you never had an hysterical patient who declared she could not walk and after being carried about for o in her bedrooarette

"Perhaps that's not quite a typical case, but you must have known of many people who declare they have lost the use of one or ain sympathy from their friends?"

"Quite so" Anstice could not but adenerally soained, even if it is only the desire for sympathy In this case, however, thebefore the anonyan to arrive this woman had admitted her inability to handle pen or pencil"

"Really? That coh, of course, if the woht prepare the way, so to speak, for so proble it to be she--? should start another caainst you Surely she can't want her mistress, to whom you say she is devoted, to be suspected once more?"

"I don't know--I confess it is a problem beyond my powers to solve," said Anstice rather hopelessly; and Clive answered at once, with a kind note in his voice

"Don't say that, Dr Anstice All sorts of ht sooner or later, you know, and it is quite on the cards this one may be easier to solve than you think at present At any rate, if I ive you a word of advice, keep your eye on the Italian woin, and as a doctor you ought to be able to find soh any imposition in the way of pretence"