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〃Pardon me；〃 he said； 〃but I believe you are waiting for your
maid Hudson？〃
As though fearing an impertinence； the girl regarded him in
silence。
〃I only wish to make sure；〃 continued Philip； 〃that you are she
for whom I have a message。 You have an appointment； I believe； to
be photographed in fancy dress as Mary Queen of Scots？〃
〃Well？〃 assented the girl。
〃And you telephoned Hudson；〃 he continued； 〃to bring you your
muff。〃
The girl exclaimed with vexation。
〃Oh！〃 she protested； 〃I knew they'd get it wrong！ Not muff； ruff！
I want my ruff。〃
Philip felt a cold shiver creep down his spine。
〃For the love of Heaven！〃 he exclaimed in horror； 〃it's true！〃
〃What's true？〃 demanded the young woman in some alarm。
〃That I'm a mind reader；〃 declared Philip。 〃I've read your mind！
I can read everybody's mind。 I know just what you're thinking
now。 You're thinking I'm mad！〃
The actions of the young lady showed that again he was correct。
With a gasp of terror she fled past him and raced up the stairs
to the studio。 Philip made no effort to follow and to explain。
What was there to explain？ How could he explain that which； to
himself； was unbelievable？ Besides； the girl had served her
purpose。 If he could read the mind of one； he could read the
minds of all。 By some unexplainable miracle； to his ordinary
equipment of senses a sixth had been added。 As easily as； before
that morning； he could look into the face of a fellow…mortal； he
now could look into the workings of that fellow…mortal's mind。
The thought was appalling。 It was like living with one's ear to a
key…hole。 In his dismay his first idea was to seek medical
advicethe best in London。 He turned instantly in the direction
of Harley Street。 There； he determined； to the most skilled
alienist in town he would explain his strange plight。 For only as
a misfortune did the miracle appear to him。 But as he made his
way through the streets his pace slackened。
Was he wise； he asked himself； in allowing others to know he
possessed this strange power？ Would they not at once treat him as
a madman？ Might they not place him under observation； or even
deprive him of his liberty？ At the thought he came to an abrupt
halt His own definition of the miracle as a 〃power〃 had opened a
new line of speculation。 If this strange gift （already he was
beginning to consider it more leniently） were concealed from
others； could he not honorably put it to some useful purpose？
For； among the blind； the man with one eye is a god。 Was not
heamong all other men the only one able to read the minds of
all other mena god？ Turning into Bruton Street； he paced its
quiet length considering the possibilities that lay within him。
It was apparent that the gift would lead to countless
embarrassments。 If it were once known that he possessed it； would
not even his friends avoid him？ For how could any one； knowing
his most secret thought was at the mercy of another； be happy in
that other's presence？ His power would lead to his social
ostracism。 Indeed； he could see that his gift might easily become
a curse。 He decided not to act hastily； that for the present he
had best give no hint to others of his unique power。
As the idea of possessing this power became more familiar； he
regarded it with less aversion。 He began to consider to what
advantage he could place it。 He could see that； given the right
time and the right man； he might learn secrets leading to
far…reaching results。 To a statesman； to a financier； such a gift
as he possessed would make him a ruler of men。 Philip had no
desire to be a ruler of men； but he asked himself how could he
bend this gift to serve his own？ What he most wished was to marry
Helen Carey； and； to that end； to possess money。 So he must meet
men who possessed money； who were making money。 He would put
questions to them。 And with words they would give evasive
answers； but their minds would tell him the truth。
The ethics of this procedure greatly disturbed him。 Certainly it
was no better than reading other people's letters。 But； he
argued； the dishonor in knowledge so obtained would lie only in
the use he made of it。 If he used it without harm to him from
whom it was obtained and with benefit to others； was he not
justified in trading on his superior equipment？ He decided that
each case must be considered separately in accordance with the
principle involved。 But； principle or no principle； he was
determined to become rich。 Did not the end justify the means？
Certainly an all…wise Providence had not brought Helen Carey into
his life only to take her away from him。 It could not be so
cruel。 But； in selecting them for one another； the all…wise
Providence had overlooked the fact that she was rich and he was
poor。 For that oversight Providence apparently was now
endeavoring to make amends。 In what certainly was a fantastic and
roundabout manner Providence had tardily equipped him with a gift
that could lead to great wealth。 And who was he to fly in the
face of Providence？ He decided to set about building up a
fortune； and building it in a hurry。
From Bruton Street he had emerged upon Berkeley Square； and； as
Lady Woodcote had invited him to meet Helen at luncheon at the
Ritz； he turned in that direction。 He was too early for luncheon；
but in the corridor of the Ritz he knew he would find persons of
position and fortune； and in reading their minds he might pass
the time before luncheon with entertainment； possibly with
profit。 For； while pacing Bruton Street trying to discover the
principles of conduct that threatened to hamper his new power； he
had found that in actual operation it was quite simple。 He
learned that his mind； in relation to other minds； was like the
receiver of a wireless station with an unlimited field。 For；
while the wireless could receive messages only from those
instruments with which it was attuned； his mind was in key with
all other minds。 To read the thoughts of another； he had only to
concentrate his own upon that person； and to shut off the
thoughts of that person； he had only to turn his own thoughts
elsewhere。 But also he discovered that over the thoughts of those
outside the range of his physical sight he had no control。 When
he asked of what Helen Carey was at that moment thinking； there
was no result。 But when he asked； 〃Of what is that policeman on
the corner thinking？〃 he was surprised to find that that officer
of the law was formulating regulations to abolish the hobble
skirt as an impediment to traffic。
As Philip turned into Berkeley Square； the accents of a mind in
great distress smote upon his new and sixth sense。 And； in the
person of a young gentleman leaning against the park railing； he
discovered the source from which the mental sufferings emanated。
The young man was a pink…cheeked； yellow…haired youth of
extremely boyish appearance； and dressed as if for the
race…track。 But at the moment his pink and babyish face wore an
expression of complete misery。 With tear…filled eyes he was
gazing at a house of yellow stucco on the opposite side of the
street。 And his thoughts were these： 〃She is the best that ever
lived； and I am the most ungrateful of fools。 How happy were we
in the house of yellow stucco！ Only now； when she has closed its
doors to me； do I know how happy！ If she would give me another
chance； never again would I distress or deceive her。〃
So far had the young man progressed in his thoughts when an
automobile of surprising smartness swept around the corner and
drew up in front of the house of yellow stucco； and from it
descended a charming young person。 She was of the Dresden…
shepherdess type； with large blue eyes of haunting beauty and
innocence。
〃My wife！〃 exclaimed the blond youth at the railings。 And
instantly he dodged behind a horse that； while still attached to
a four…wheeler； was contentedly eating from a nose…bag。
With a key the Dresden shepherdess opened the door to the yellow
house and disappeared。
The calling of the reporter trains him in audacity； and to act
quickly。 He shares the troubles of so many people that to the
troubles of other people he becomes callous； and often will rush
in where friends of the family fear to tread。 Although Philip was
not now acting as a reporter； he acted quickly。 Hardly had the
door closed upon the young lady than he had mounted the steps and
rung the visitor's bell。 As he did so； he could not resist
casting a triumphant glance in the direction of the outlawed
husband。 And； in turn； what the outcast husband； peering from
across the back of the cab horse； thought of Philip； of his
clothes； of his general appearance； and of the manner in which he
would delight to alter all of them； was quickly communicated to
the American。 They were thoughts of a nature so violent and
uncomplimentary that Philip hastily cut off all connection。
As Philip did not know the name of the Dresden…china doll； it was
fortunate that on opening the door； the butler promptly
announced：
〃Her ladyship is not receiving。〃
〃Her ladyship will； I think； receive me；〃 said Philip pleasantly；
〃when you tell her I come as the special ambassador of his
lordship。〃
From a tiny recep