Ignoring the interruption, Dr. McMutrie went on:
"Has she ever made a personal threat against your life--in your hearing?" Pointing to the paper in his hand, he said impatiently: "These statements are all more or less vague."
"The affidavit of the family physician bears that out," interrupted Cooley again.
Dr. McMutrie frowned.
"Mr. Marsh, will you please answer my questions? Yes, or no."
"Yes," said Jimmy positively.
"She has?"
"Yes, sir. I"m in actual fear of my life--that"s the whole truth."
Mr. Cooley beamed satisfaction.
"Yes," he said quickly, "my client can never tell when this girl"s mania for the punishment of imaginary wrongs inflicted on her may not a.s.sume the form of personal violence. We have thirty witnesses who can prove the existence in this unfortunate girl"s mind of the most unaccountable, unreasonable desire to--to inflict something she calls retribution on this innocent man"s head. Oh, it"s a positive danger--a positive danger!"
Professor Bodley peered over his spectacles and grew reminiscent.
"I remember," he said, "a case up the State, where that condition resulted in a fatal shooting affair."
"Of course," exclaimed Cooley eagerly, glad to grasp at any straw, "that"s just it. It isn"t her ridiculous notion about money--or the fact that she is being sought in marriage by penniless paupers. It"s the fear of violence which prompts us to ask that she be taken care of, and watched, at least for a time, for her own sake absolutely--for her own sake."
The inspector"s face grew grave.
"Quite so--quite so," he said thoughtfully.
Professor Bodley held up a newspaper clipping.
"Is it really a fact," he demanded, "that Miss Marsh stated that she intended to contribute a large sum of money to----" He stopped a moment to consult the clipping and then read on: "An inst.i.tution for the development of the psychic self in domestic animals?"
"That"s sworn testimony!" exclaimed Mr. Cooley, pointing to the newspaper.
"It"s a positive fact," nodded Dr. Zacharie affirmatively, "she told me so herself."
"Animal-psychology is decidedly far fetched," laughed the professor. "It seems to me that the human race has a hard enough time in developing its own soul."
He threw himself back into his chair convulsed at his own humor.
"Rather good," grinned Cooley, joining in the merriment.
"Of course," went on Dr. Zacharie gravely, "these strange ideas may mean nothing. But with the delusion of imaginary wrongs a violent mania may develop. You never can tell where it will lead. A case of this sort needs close study."
Jimmy nodded approval.
"Just so," he said. "A year or so of rest in the calm seclusion of some country retreat would do the poor girl so much good. It might work a complete cure--don"t you think so?"
Mr. Cooley gave him a nudge.
"Hush!" whispered the lawyer.
Up to this point the lawyer had followed the proceedings eagerly, highly gratified at the progress made, but Jimmy"s loquaciousness threatened to spoil everything. Aloud he said:
"Er--these gentlemen will form their own opinions. Whatever is best will be done. If your niece is, as I fear, hopelessly incompetent, you can rely on them to--to--take the proper step to prevent any catastrophe."
"Her att.i.tude is certainly very significant," said Dr. Zacharie pointedly.
Dr. McMutrie was still sceptical. Dryly he said:
"Yes, it signifies that she dislikes her relatives, but dislike of one"s relatives is not necessarily a sign of mental derangement. I know some very excellent people who cannot bear the sight of their relatives."
"On the other hand," retorted Mr. Cooley, "Hamlet hated his uncle, and it developed into a general mania for killing people. If he"d been properly restrained five innocent lives would have been saved."
"Five lives--that is not in the medical records, is it?" demanded Professor Bodley anxiously.
"Shakespeare killed them--not Hamlet," laughed Dr. McMutrie.
"Still," said Mr. Cooley significantly, "it"s a good object lesson."
"We don"t need object lessons from playwrights," rejoined Dr. McMutrie sharply.
"Certainly not," chuckled the professor.
"Hush!" exclaimed Jimmy. "Here comes my niece!"
The door of the little room opened, but it was not Paula. Mrs. Parkes appeared instead.
"She won"t come, sir," said the landlady apologetically. "I told her, and I tried to persuade her, but she wouldn"t."
"Then we"ll go to her," said Mr. Cooley determinedly.
He made a motion as if he would use force, but Mrs. Parkes, alarmed, held up her arms entreatingly.
"No, please, sir, the poor girl"s so frightened! Won"t you come to-morrow?"
Dr. Zacharie advanced, full of importance and authority.
"I"ll get her," he said grimly. "That is, of course, unless I have completely lost my influence over her. In these cases one can never be sure what form the delusion will take."
"Do as you think best, doctor," a.s.sented Mr. Cooley.
Dr. Zacharie opened the door and went in. There was a short delay during which the others waited expectantly. In a few moments the door again opened and Paula entered docily, the physician at her side.