"Jacques! Here then! Got any lemons?"
"Des citrons? Oui, monsieur, j'en ai."
"Squeeze a couple and bring me the juice."
"Entendu, monsieur."
With a thoughtful face Holliday measured equal parts of gin and Cointreau into the shaker. Esther found herself watching the operation with interest. Still busy, he remarked without turning:
"Old Clifford seems a bit seedy."
The doctor had sunk heavily into a chair at the top of a table with a sigh of relaxation. He replied:
"Yes, so his wife mentioned to me a few days ago, but I have not seen him."
"I have. Last night. I was there to dinner. The old boy was quite off his feed, and pushed off to bed about nine o'clock. I daresay you'll be hearing from him before long."
Sartorius yawned. "I daresay," he agreed, and broke off an end of the long stick of bread before him. It occurred to Esther that it was the first time she had seen him sit down properly at the table for a meal.