“Sir Thomas Aviolet has rung up on the telephone, sir. He wishes to speak to you or to Mrs. Aviolet.”
“I’ll go.”
He was taken to a small waiting-room, where yet another uniformed official sat at a table writing, and where a telephone, with receiver unfastened, hung against the wall.
“Dr. Lucian speaking, Sir Thomas.”
The answering voice uttered painstaking shouts.
“I can’t hear. Could you speak lower?”
“... hate these instruments ... what? ... think where you’d got to ... What? Rose come yet...? at once ... solicitor ... best man in ... what?”
“Mrs. Aviolet is with the boy. Do you want me to take any message?”
“... can’t hear a word ... What? ... buzzing going on all the time ... tell Rose ... come here as quickly as possible ... solicitor ... no time to lose.”
“Tell Mrs. Aviolet to come and meet the solicitor who is advising you on the case? Is that right?”