Understand that I build the hypothesis only tentatively, with many reservations, among which--" He broke off short.

The smile was growing upon her lips.
"I will put together a few of my things," said the doctor, "and come down to you at once." "Good!" said the girl, "I'll be waiting for you with two horses before you are ready." He turned away, but had taken hardly a step before he turned, saying: "But why are you so sure that you will be ready before I--" but she was already down the steps from the veranda and stepping briskly down the street.
"There is an element of the unexplainable in woman," said the doctor, and resumed his way to his room.

Once there, something prompted him to act with the greatest possible speed.

He tossed his toilet articles and a few changes of linen into a small, flexible valise and ran down the stairs.

He reached the veranda again, panting, and the girl was not in sight; a smile of triumph appeared on the grave, colourless lips of the doctor.