He looked at me for a moment fixedly.
"It is not at all necessary!" he declared. "If Mr. Blumentein is not satisfied with my conduct of the case, I will withdraw from it at once! Otherwise, I shall not tolerate any interference!"
He left me without another word. I returned to the bedside. As I approached, Guest deliberately opened one eye and then closed it again. I addressed him in French:
"How are you?"
"About as I am meant to be," he answered.
The nurse came over to the bedside.
"It is not well for the gentleman to talk to-night," she said. "The doctor has said that he must be quite quiet."
"I shall only stay a few minutes," I answered; "and I will be careful not to disturb him."
She stood quite still for a moment, looking sullenly at us. Then she turned away and left the room. Guest raised himself a little in the bed.
"She has gone to fetch one of my—guardians," he remarked grimly.