“Forgive me, madam,” he said stiffly, “but in such a case as this it is better that nothing in the room should be disturbed until the arrival of the police. You have been burning paper, I see.”
“Are you a detective or a doctor?” she asked calmly. “Do you need me to remind you that your patient is bleeding to death?”
He dropped on his knees by the man’s side and made a hurried examination.
“Who tied this scarf here?” he asked, looking up.
“I did,” Anna answered. “I hope that it has not done any harm.”
“He would have been dead before now without it,” the doctor answered shortly. “Get me some brandy and my bag.”
It was nearly half an hour before they dared ask him the question.
“Will he live?”
The doctor shook his head.
“It is very doubtful,” he said. “You must send for the police at once, you know. You, sir,” he added, turning to Brendon, “had better take my card round to the police station in Werner Street and ask that Detective Dorling be sent round here at once on urgent business.”