"Hullo!" was his gruff salutation.
I was pleased at the meeting.
"The very man I was wanting to see," said I. "How many hospitals are there in the city and the immediate vicinity?"
He eyed me in his customary serious, intent manner. I amplified:
"I have n't the least idea, you know. Perhaps I could name a dozen, perhaps a score; but there might be five hundred. Anyhow, I have to search them all—or, until I find what I want."
"The deuce you have!" he jerked out. "Anything to do with your ruby case?"
"Everything," said I.
"Well!" He stared at me a moment, then with a sudden movement whipped the fur lap-robe aside. "Get in here," he commanded, in his abrupt manner.
The next instant I was seated beside him, and his spirited mare was dashing along the street at a pace which I regarded as altogether too reckless. Dr. De Breen had a weakness for spirited horses, and he handled them with a careless ease that never failed to excite in me a secret envy; for—I here confess it—I always have been a bit afraid of horses, whether spirited or not; not much, but just enough to make me cautious. I never take any liberties with even a blind and spavined derelict.
"What d'ye want to find?" he bluntly asked, after we had ridden the better part of five minutes in silence.