"What's the matter with you, Mike?" sneered Sadie. "Got a crush on the girl?"
"No," retorted Mike. "Just trying to stop you from making an even bigger fool of yourself than you are usually!"
"I'm afraid you'll have to pipe down, Mike." The Doctor's eyes gleamed balefully. "Sentence has been passed on Miss Dixon and Mr. Bolton--and that is all there is to it."
"That's where you're dead wrong."
"What do you mean? Don't you realize that these two know too much about us to permit them to live?"
"Have I said they didn't? But Sadie should not be allowed to be their executioner."
"Oh--aren't you considerate!" Sadie's tone was pregnant with sarcasm. "Want the job yourself?"
"Not particularly--none of us should do it."
"Who then, may I ask?"
"Why, Perkins, of course."