This time Dr. Alton met Mason's eyes firmly. «I intend to go to the patient and tell her that she has been suffering from arsenic poisoning rather than from allergies or a digestive upset. I intend to tell her that we're going to have to take extraordinary safeguards and that, from the manner in which the symptoms developed, I have very strong suspicions that there was an attempt at homicide.»

Mason said, «And I suppose you have taken into consideration that this will start a three-ring circus among relatives, authorities and people in the household. They'll call you a quack, an alarmist and accuse you of trying to alienate Lauretta Trent's affections.»

«I can't help it. I have my duty as a doctor.»

«All right,» Mason said. «We should have that report no later than nine-thirty. The only thing that I don't agree with you on is safeguarding your patient in the meantime.»

«I know, I know,» Dr. Alton said. «I've debated the pros and cons with myself and I have cqme to the conclusion that this is the best way to handle it. I'll accept responsibility for the decision. After all, you know, it is my responsibility.»

Mason nodded to Della Street. «All right, Della, we'll go to the laboratory, start them working on these things, and get a preliminary report at the earliest possible moment. You get Dr. Alton's night number and we'll call him just as soon as we have a report.»

«And, of course,» Dr. Alton said, «you'll keep things entirely confidential? You know, the police and, of course, the press. These things have a way of leaking out once they get into the hands of the police, and I know that Lauretta Trent would consider publicity-well, she'd simply hit the ceiling. It would mean the end of our professional relationship.»

Mason said, «I'm in somewhat the position of being a public servant in this case, Doctor. Actually, I haven't a client. The logical client would probably be Lauretta Trent, but I certainly don't want to approach her in any way.»

«You don't have to,» Dr. Alton said. «The minute you find anything positive in the hair and the nails, I'm going to go to her myself and I'm going to explain to her just what you have done in the case and how valuable your assistance has been.

«In the meantime, I can assure you, on my own responsibility, that any amounts within reason you may be called upon to pay will be promptly remitted by Mrs. Trent.

«But…» Dr. Alton cleared his throat, «in the event your suspicions should turn out to be groundless, Mr. Mason, you are-Well, I… I mean to say-«

Mason grinned and interrupted him. «You mean that in the event I'm barking up the wrong tree, my costs are going to be borne exclusively by me; that I will have lost a lot of face with you.»

Dr. Alton said, «You've expressed it more forcefully than I would, but very well.»

Mason said, «You'll hear from me about nine or ninethirty and then you can take it from there.»

«Thank you,» Dr. Alton said.

He gripped the lawyer's hand and went out.

Della Street looked at Mason speculatively, «Do you have some mental reservations about Dr. Alton?» she asked.

Mason said, «Do you know, Della, I can't help feeling what a mess it would be if Dr. Alton should be one of the beneficiaries in Lauretta Trent's will.»

Della Street's eyes widened with consternation. «Good heavens,» she said, «do you suppose…?»

«Exactly,» Mason said as her voice trailed away into silence. «And now, let's go to dinner, after stopping by the laboratory and asking for a quick preliminary report.»

«And you're going to tell Dr. Alton what you find? If he's one of the beneficiaries under the will-Well, of course, under the circumstances-«

«I know,» Mason said, «I'm going to tell him and then I'nj going to make absolutely certain that Lauretta Trent is protected against any further so-called gastroenteric disturbances.»

«That,» Della Street said, «should make quite a situation.»

«It will,» Mason told her.

Mason and Della Street had a leisurely, relaxing dinner.

Della Street had left word with the laboratory to call them at the cafe, and the headwaiter, knowing that an important call was expected, was bustling about keeping an eye on Mason's table.

Della Street had contented herself with a small steak and baked potato, but Mason had ordered an extra-thick cut of rare prime ribs of beef, a large bottle of Guinness Stout, tossed salad and stuffed baked potato.

At length, the lawyer pushed back his plate, finished the last of his Stout, smiled across the glass atDella Street and said, «It's a real pleasure to be able to dine, to feel that we're not wasting time and yet be able to take all the time we want.

«We have the laboratory doing our analysis for us; we have Paul Drake all ready to-Oh-oh,» the lawyer interrupted himself, «here comes Pierre with a telephone.»

The headwaiter bustled importantly to the table, conscious of the fact that many eyes were on him as he plugged in the telephone for his distinguished guest.

«Your call, Mr. Mason,» he said.

Mason picked up the telephone, said, «Mason talking.»

The operator said, «Just a moment, Mr. Mason.» And then Mason heard a quick, «On the line.»

«Mason talking,» the lawyer said.

The voice of the laboratory technician was almost mechanical as he rasped out a report.

«You wanted an analysis of nails and hair for arsenic. Both reactions were positive.»

«Quantity?» Mason asked.

«It was not a quantitative analysis. I simply ran tests. However, I can state this: There are two bands of arsenic in the hair indicating a recurrent poisoning with a lapse of about four weeks in between the attacks. The nails do not give that long a sequence but do indicate the presence of arsenic.»

«Can you make an analysis which would give me an idea of the quantity?» Mason asked.

«Not with the material which I have at present. I gathered that haste was imperative and I used up the material in making tests simply for the purpose of getting a reaction to the poison.»

«That's fine,» Mason said, «thanks a lot, just keep it under your hat.»

«Anything to report to the authorities?»

«Nothing,» Mason said positively. «Absolutely nothing.»

The lawyer hung up the phone, scribbled the amount of a tip on a check which the headwaiter had brought him; signed his name and handed the headwaiter ten dollars.

«This is for you, Pierre. Thanks.»

«Oh, thank you so much,» Pierre said. «The call it was all right? It came through nicely?»

«It came through fine,» Mason said.

The lawyer nodded to Della Street. They walked out of the restaurant, and Mason stopped at the telephone booth to deposit a coin and dial Dr. Alton's night number.

Mason heard the phone start ringing, and almost instantly Dr. Alton's voice said, «Yes, yes. Hello. Hello,» indicating that the physician had been anxiously waiting by the telephone.

«Perry Mason talking, Doctor,» the lawyer said. «The tests were both positive. The hair test indicated there had been two periods of poison ingestion about four weeks apart.»

There was a long moment of stunned silence at the other end of the telephone; then Dr. Alton said, «Good God!»

Mason said, «She's your patient, Doctor.»

Dr. Alton said, «Look, Mason, I have reason to believe that I am named as one of the beneficiaries in Lauretta Trent's will.

«This whole business is going to put me in a very embarrassing position. As soon as I make a report to Lauretta Trent, I will be castigated by the family who will insist on calling in another physician to check my diagnosis and then when that physician confirms our suspicions, the family will at least intimate that I have been trying to hurry up my inheritance.»