"I certainly did, sir; simply to get some medicine for Captain Cranston's little son and without an idea that Brannan was there."
"Then you didn't go with the purpose of seeing Brannan?"
"Certainly not, sir. I believed him to be at the agency until I heard his voice. I knew the young man well from an experience last summer and during the campaign."
"But what about ordering the attendant out?"
"That is absurd. I found—or rather"—and now the hot color of embarrassment flew up to his pale forehead—"Miss Loomis, who is experienced in such matters, found Brannan in very dangerous plight,—his pulse nearly gone. He was verging, perhaps, on an attack of delirium. She considered, as did I, that the doctor ought to see him at once, and, as his quarters were at the nearest corner, barely two hundred yards away, she told the attendant to hurry for him. I should have done the same thing, but it was unnecessary. The attendant should have returned at once, but——"
"Well, didn't you undertake to administer brandy?"
"Not at all, sir. The doctor himself ordered that on his arrival."
"At your urging or suggestion?"
"I certainly approved it, sir, but I did not urge."
"Well, then, what does it mean—your having told the attendant his orders were of no account?"