Doctor's Orders Read Online Free Page A

Goodnight, and thank you for that pleasant walk.”
    “Anthea,” said the original young man. “What a charming name. Goodnight, Mademoiselle Anthea, we shall meet again.”
    Anthea hesitated. Then she smiled brilliantly on the young man and followed Diana to the lift. Diana thought: “I took her by surprise—that was too easy.”
    Anthea thought: “I really am tired, I’d rather go to bed, but she needn’t think I am going to be ordered round just as she thinks fit.”
    When Anthea was in bed, Diana stood once more on the balcony of the sitting room, before going to bed herself. She could not help contrasting Anthea’s way of conducting her affairs with her own way. She could have been in this hotel for days before anybody really approached her in friendliness; and then an acquaintance thus began would have proceeded slowly, steadily. But Anthea was not in the place five minutes before she had begun to gather her entourage, and Diana admitted she was clever. She knew all the little tricks, and they served her in good stead. Diana knew that she would scorn to use these little tricks herself, yet she could not help admitting that it must be very pleasant to be so instantly attractive.
    She left the balcony and went into her room. The sudden change from her old life to this new one still seemed rather incredible. “Too story-book,” she thought. “I shall wake up and find myself by the cinders in rags. But at least, it is interesting. At least, I can’t say with any degree of certainty what will happen tomorrow. And with Anthea, I have a feeling that anything might.”
    She drew back her curtains, switched off the lights, and dragged herself away from the window, with its view of the lake and mountains under a half-moon, to her bed.

 
    CHAPTER TWO
    It was the second day of a two-day conference, now drawing to its close. A great deal of business had been settled and dispatched during the two days, a great many speeches made and listened to, some brilliant, some dull. The international flavor of the conference, convened by a health organization of world standing, gave it importance and interest. There were men who attended purely as politicians and administrators, but there were also economists, scientists, doctors, who related the health of the people to the everyday problems of production and the problems of glut and famine.
    Dr. Frederic had just finished speaking. As usual, he was forthright, clear-cut and far-seeing. As usual, his speech was tinged with the idealism they had come to expect from him; but which they allowed him in view of his common-sense attitude to all problems. There was a good deal of applause, and the chairman, thanking him, said that what he had said had long needed saying, and it was diplomatic that such a speech had come from a distinguished citizen of a country that could not be accused of having axes to grind or territorial claims to make. The meeting went on its way, coming to its conclusion slowly, and breaking up into the usual groups of men who had something special to say to each other. People began to take their departures, cars were called and manoeuvred into position by patient chauffeurs, and the delegates left to continue their separate lives, some returning to hotels, some to catch trains and airplanes to other countries, some to meet wives and daughters, some to continue discussions of the problems dealt with at the conference.
    Dr. Frederic’s gleaming Rolls drew up before the entrance. The immaculate Gerhardt opened the door and stood waiting while the doctor shook hands with several of the delegates and exchanged last comments with them. Then he got into the car, Gerhardt took the driving seat, and the Rolls slid silently away, followed at once by the next in the stream of cars. A few men watched it go. One said: “He is very young to have got where he is.” Another said: “He will go farther yet. He is very able, very far-seeing.” “All the same,” said a third,