Browne rose quickly.
"By the way, I nearly forgot that woman, and she needed immediate attention, judging from what you said. I----" he made as to move to the door. Elspeth intercepted him.
"Not just now," she said hurriedly, "Rachel is better, and is now asleep. I attended to her."
"Pooh, you are not a medical man. I must go, if only out of charity."
What Elspeth would have said must remain a mystery, but she apparently was not anxious for the doctor to go on his errand of mercy. At all events she did not move away from the door. Just as she was about to speak, the door opened slightly, and a head topped by an ostrich-feather-trimmed bowler hat was thrust cautiously in.
"Elspeth!"
She turned at the cautious whisper, and opened the door wide.
"Come in, Sweetlips. Dr. Browne was just thinking of seeing your wife."
"Dr. Browne," repeated the Cheap-Jack, with a shrewd glance, "and who may he be?"
"I am Mr. Herries' friend," explained Browne, rather taken with the man's lean, clever face. "He wanted me to come and help him."