"Oh, dear, no--not to complain! To pity our afflicted Jack, and to feel, perhaps, that your irresistible influence over him might be required--no more." "You are very good," said Mrs.Wagner dryly.

"At the same time, I beg you to accept my excuses--not only for Jack, but for myself.

I found him so well behaved, and so capable of restraining himself in London, that I thought I was running no risk in bringing him with me to Frankfort." "Pray say no more, dear madam--you really confuse me.

I am the innocent cause of his little outbreak.

I most unfortunately reminded him of the time when he lived with us at Wurzburg--and in that way I revived one of his old delusions, which even your admirable treatment has failed to remove from his mind." "May I ask what the delusion is, Madame Fontaine ?" "One of the commonest delusions among insane persons, Mrs.Wagner--the delusion that he has been poisoned.