"What's the matter?" asked Stirling.
"My eldest's been rather badly bitten by a dog, and the missis wants it cauterized."
"Really?"
"Well, you bet she does!"
"Where's the bite?"
"In the calf."
The other man at the door having departed Robert Brindley abruptly joined the conversation at this point.
"I suppose you've heard of that case of hydrophobia at Bleakridge?" said Brindley.
Edward Henry's heart jumped.
"No, I haven't!" he said anxiously. "What is it?"