A woman who does not go with her time is voted eccentric; a woman who prefers music to tea and scandal is an undesirable acquaintance; and a woman who prefers Byron to Austin Dobson is--in fact, no measure can gauge her general impossibility!" I laughed gaily.

"I will take all the consequences as willingly as I will take your medicines," I said, stretching out my hand for the little vases which he gave me wrapped in paper.

"And I thank you very much, monsieur.

And"-- here I hesitated.
Ought I not to ask him his fee?
Surely the medicines ought to be paid for?
Heliobas appeared to read my thoughts, for he said, as though answering my unuttered question: "I do not accept fees, mademoiselle.

To relieve your mind from any responsibility of gratitude to me, I will tell you at once that I never promise to effect a cure unless I see that the person who comes to be cured has a certain connection with myself.