Qnly inarticulate gobbling sounds answered her, since Masters had fastened a big hand over H.M.'s mouth.
He removed his hand only when he judged it safe.
"Madam," said H.M. getting his breath but continuing to sit on the floor, "I'd sort of like to suggest that you got your verbs confused. I'm not a big doctor. But I need a big doctor. I need him like billy-o."
"I do hope you're not hurt, sir?"
"Hurt? I'm paralyzed! I'm-"
"Would you like me to rub some embrocation on it?"
H.M. merely looked at her.
"Get up, sir!" hissed Masters, in embarrassed despair. He tried to lift H.M., who merely sat stubbornly like a mule until a sudden idea appeared to occur to him.
Then he got up of his own accord, quickly, and went round counting the rugs. His deadly injury seemed to be forgotten.
If on Thursday night Mrs. Propper would merely have called him'a wild man, this afternoon she showed no such tendency. To Mrs. Propper, a chastened woman, he was something only a little short of a wizard. He had saved Vicky Fane from dying of lockjaw.