''Dr Christie,'' I said, more loudly.
''Pulse quickening, now,'' he murmured.
I pulled my hand away. ''Will you listen to me? You have got me here, by mistake.''
''Is that so?'' He had narrowed his eyes and was looking into my mouth. ''Teeth sound enough, I think. Gums may be putrid, however.—You must tell us, if they start troubling you.''
Tm not staying here,'' I said.
''Not staying, Mrs Rivers?''
''Mrs Rivers? For God''s sake, how can I be her? I stood and saw her married. You came to me, and heard me speak. I—''
''So I did,'' he said slowly. And you told me how you feared for your mistress''s health; how you wished she might be kept quiet and free from harm. For sometimes it is easier—is it not?—to ask for assistance in behalf of another, than for ourselves? We understand you, Mrs Rivers, very well.''
''I am not Maud Rivers!''
He raised a finger, and almost smiled.
''You are not ready to admit that you are Maud Rivers. Hmm? That is quite a different thing. And when you are ready to admit to it, our work shall be done. Until then—''
''You shan''t keep me here. You shan''t! You keep me, while those swindling villains—''
He folded his arms. ''Which swindling villains, Mrs Rivers?''
''I am not Maud Rivers! My name is Susan—''
''Yes?''
But here, for the first time, I faltered.
''Susan Smith,'' I said finally.
''Susan Smith. Of—where was it, Dr Graves? Of Whelk Street, Mayfair?''