“I would hardly have expected it of myself,” acknowledged Alan with a wry smile.  “But I’ve had rather a jolly time at your expense.  I’ve always enjoyed working miracles and if you could have seen yourself the way you were when I got here you would think there was a magic in it somehow.”

“I evidently owe you a great deal, Mr. Massey.  I am grateful or at least I presume I shall be later.  Just now I feel a little—­dumb.”

“My dear fellow, nothing would please me better than to have you continue dumb on that subject.  I did this thing as I’ve done most things in my life to please myself.  I don’t want your thanks.  I would like a little of your liking though.  You and I are likely to see quite a bit of each other these next few weeks.  Could you manage to forget the past and call a kind of truce for a while?  You have a good deal to forgive me—­perhaps more than you know.  If you would be willing to let the little I have done down here—­and mind you I don’t want to magnify that part—­wipe off the slate I should be glad.  Could you manage it, Carson?”

“It looks as if it hardly could be magnified,” said Dick with sudden heartiness.  “I spoke grudgingly just now I am afraid.  Please overlook it.  I am more than grateful for all you have done and more than glad to be friends if you want it.  I don’t hate you.  How could I when you have saved my life and anyway I never hated you as you used to hate me.  I’ve often wondered why you did, especially at first before you knew how much I cared for Tony.  And even that shouldn’t have made you hate me because—­you won.”

“Never mind why I hated you.  I don’t any more.  Will you shake hands with me, Carson, so we can begin again?”

Dick pulled himself weakly up on the pillow.  Their hands met.

“Hang it, Massey,” Dick said.  “I am afraid I am going to like you.  I’ve heard you were hypnotic.  I believe on my soul you came down here to make me like you?  Did you?”

But Alan only smiled his ironic, noncommital smile and remarked it was time for the invalid to take a nap.  He had had enough conversation for the first attempt.

Dick soon drifted off to sleep but Alan Massey prowled the streets of the Mexican city far into the night, with tireless, driven feet.  The demons were after him again.

And far away in another city whose bright lights glow all night Tony Holiday was still playing Madge to packed houses, happy in her triumph but with heart very pitiful for her beloved Miss Clay whose sorrow and continued illness had made possible the fruition of her own eager hopes.  Tony was sadly lonely without Alan, thought of him far more often and with deeper affection even than she had while she had him at her beck and call in the city, loved him with a new kind of love for his generous kindness to Dick.  She made up her mind that he had cleared the shield forever by this splendid act and saw no reason why she should keep him any longer on probation.  Surely she knew by this time that he was a man even a Holiday might be proud to marry.