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She made with one hand a gesture requesting
silence. Riccardo, knowing that a person who is writing
in cipher must not be interrupted, sat down on the sofa
behind her and yawned like a man who can hardly keep awake.
"2, 4; 3, 7; 6, 1; 3, 5; 4> 1;" Gemma's voice
went on with machine-like evenness. "8, 4; 7, 2;
5, 1; that finishes the sentence, Cesare."
She stuck a pin into the paper to mark the
exact place, and turned round.
"Good-morning, doctor; how fagged you look!
Are you well?"
"Oh, I'm well enough--only tired out. I've
had an awful night with Rivarez."
"With Rivarez?"
"Yes; I've been up with him all night, and now
I must go off to my hospital patients. I just
came round to know whether you can think of
anyone that could look after him a bit for the
next few days. He's in a devil of a state. I'll do
my best, of course; but I really haven't the time;
and he won't hear of my sending in a nurse."
"What is the matter with him?"
"Well, rather a complication of things.


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