Aaron gathered her up; he and the now alarmed Joseph carried her down the hall to her bedchamber. As her head touched the pillow, her muscles twitched, she jerked from side to side, her breathing stopped, while her face became suffused with a horrible dusky blue.

'What ails her?' Joseph gasped. 'She was never like this before.'

Aaron Hung around violently. 'Don't stand there gibbering! Summon the doctor! Get hot water, brandy, blankets!' He bent over Theo, shaking her gently, chafing her cold arms, calling to her.

When the excited servants ran in, he dashed brandy in her face, and forced some drops between her rigid lips. He piled blankets on her. 'Bring all the warming-pans in the house, fill them quickly with hot coals. We must get her warm.'

Little by little Theo relaxed, the bluish hue fading to pink.

When Joseph returned running, with Doctor Debow, she was breathing quietly, while Aaron paced up and down the floor beside her bed and his forehead glistened with sweat.

The doctor was puffing, his flowing hair disordered, his fur collar awry, yet, despite the alarm and uncertainty in his eyes, he produced his bland smile, made Aaron a sweeping bow. 'Mr. Vice-President, it is indeed an honor——'

'My daughter is very ill, sir. She has had a convulsion. She has come out of it this time, but I fear very much for the consequences if she should have another. What is the cause and what is the remedy?'

The doctor drew a deep breath, arranged his spectacles, and bent upon Theo a portentously grave look. He touched her pulse with his fat fingers, tapped her chest.

'Mirabilium est natura,' he remarked at length. 'One must expect that under certain unforeseen circumstances, when dealing with situations of a pertinent nature, there may perchance occur an unexpected discharge of either gaseous or bilious humors into the circulatory system, a certain effluvia——'

'You are a fool, sir'. Aaron's words spat out. 'A fool and a charlatan. You do not know what to do for Mrs. Alston. You are dismissed.'

He spun on his heel and, to Joseph: 'Is this fat prating ass the best physician your city has to offer?'

Joseph, pallid and miserably frightened, started to speak.

Aaron interrupted him. 'Bring them all to me here, at once. I will interview them—all.'

Joseph's jaw dropped; he hesitated.