“How do you do?” the matron acknowledged the introduction, favoring us with a smile of singular sweetness and extending her hand to each of us in turn.

“Madame,” de Grandin took her smooth, white hand in his, American fashion, then bowed above it, raising it to his lips, “your little charges are indeed more than fortunate to bask in the sunshine of your ministrations!” It seemed to me he held the lady’s hand longer than necessity required, but like all his countrymen my little friend was more than ordinarily susceptible to the influence of a pretty woman, young or elderly.

“And now. Monsieur, if you please—” He resigned Mother Martin’s plump hand regretfully and turned to the superintendent, his slim, black brows arched expectantly.

“Of course,” Gervaise replied. “This way, if you please.”

“It would be better if we examined the little ones separately and without any of the attendants being present,” de Grandin remarked in a businesslike tone, placing his medicine case on the desk and unfolding a white jacket.

“But surely you cannot hope to glean any information from the children!” the superintendent protested. “I thought you were simply going to make a pretense of examining them as a blind. Mrs. Martin and I have questioned every one of them most carefully, and I assure you there is absolutely nothing to be gained by going over that ground again. Besides, some of them have become rather nervous, and we don’t want to have their little heads filled with disagreeable notions, you know. I think it would be much better if Mother Martin or I were present while the children are examined. It would give them greater confidence, you know—”

“Monsieur”—de Grandin spoke in the level, toneless voice he assumed before one of his wild outbursts of anger—“you will please do exactly as I command. Otherwise—” He paused significantly and began removing the clinical smock.

“Oh, by no means, my dear sir,” the superintendent hastened to assure him. “No, no; I wouldn’t for the world have you think I was trying to put difficulties in your way. Oh, no; I only thought—”

“Monsieur,” the little Frenchman repeated, “from this time onward, until we dismiss the case, I shall do the thinking. You will kindly have the children brought to me, one at a time.”