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ThatAgatha,whoofallwomenofmyacquaintancehasthebestbalancedmind,hadbeenreducedtoaconditionofautomatismappearedtobecertain.ApersonatadistancehadworkedherasanengineerontheshoremightguideaBrennantorpedo.Asecondsoulhadsteppedin,asitwere,hadpushedherownaside,andhadseizedhernervousmechanism,saying:"Iwillworkthisforhalfanhour."AndAgathamusthavebeenunconsciousasshecameandasshereturned.Couldshemakeherwayinsafetythroughthestreetsinsuchastate?Iputonmyhatandhurriedroundtoseeifallwaswellwithher.Yes.Shewasathome.Iwasshownintothedrawing-roomandfoundhersittingwithabookuponherlap."Youareanearlyvisitor,Austin,"saidshe,smiling."Andyouhavebeenanevenearlierone,"Ianswered.Shelookedpuzzled."Whatdoyoumean?"sheasked."Youhavenotbeenoutto-day?""No,certainlynot.""Agatha,"saidIseriously,"wouldyoumindtellingmeexactlywhatyouhavedonethismorning?"Shelaughedatmyearnestness."You’vegotonyourprofessionallook,Austin.Seewhatcomesofbeingengagedtoamanofscience.However,Iwilltellyou,thoughIcan’timaginewhatyouwanttoknowfor.Igotupateight.Ibreakfastedathalf-past.Icameintothisroomattenminutespastnineandbegantoreadthe’MemoirsofMme.deRemusat.’InafewminutesIdidtheFrenchladythebadcomplimentofdroppingtosleepoverherpages,andIdidyou,sir,theveryflatteringoneofdreamingaboutyou.ItisonlyafewminutessinceIwokeup.
