I have known a man who would be terrified at the idea of crossing Trafalgar Square." "What is the cause of agoraphobia ?" asked Barrant.
"It is a nervous disorder--one of the symptoms of advanced neurasthenia." "Did Robert Turold suffer from neurasthenia ?" "His nervous system was in a state of irritable weakness through the monomania of a fixed idea," was the reply--"too much seclusion and concentration on one object, to the exclusion of all other human interests." "How's your patient ?" said Barrant, giving the conversation an abrupt turn.
"What patient do you mean--Mrs.Thalassa ?" asked Dr.Ravenshaw in some surprise.
"Yes.

I gathered from what I overheard you say to Thalassa that you have been attending her." "I have been attending her since Mr.Turold's death." "She is in a strange condition," observed Barrant reflectively.

"I was questioning her the other night, but I could get nothing out of her.

She seems almost imbecile." "She is not a woman of strong mind, and she is now suffering from a severe shock.

She should be looked after or taken away from here altogether, but her husband seems quite indifferent." "Do you think she will recover ?" "It is impossible to say." "How do you think the shock was caused ?" "I should not like to hazard an opinion on that point, either," replied Dr.Ravenshaw gravely.