The other door I did not think of locking, for beyond it was nothing but the private staircase which led to the wing of the house occupied by Jane and myself.

Then I took off my coat and rolled up my shirt sleeve, fastening it with a safety-pin to the linen upon my shoulder.

After this I lit a spirit-lamp and sterilised my lancet by heating it in the flame.
Now, having provided myself with an ivory point and unsealed the tiny tube of lymph, I sat down in a chair so that the light from the electric lamp fell full upon my arm, and proceeded to scape the skin with the lancet until blood appeared in four or five separate places.

Next I took the ivory point, and, after cleansing it, I charged it with the lymph and applied it to the abrasions, being careful to give each of them a liberal dose.

The operation finished, I sat still awhile letting my arm hang over the back of the chair, in order that the blood might dry thoroughly before I drew down my shirt sleeve.
It was while I was sitting thus that I heard some movement behind me, and turned round suddenly to find myself face to face with my daughter Jane.