“Well, you were quite bad enough,” said Murray, “and the doctor had to bring you round same as this chap; and when he was able to sit up and talk it was quite curious—”
“I don’t see anything curious about a half-drowned chap coming to and being able to talk.”
“No,” said Murray, smiling, as he watched his companion intently, “but that wasn’t the curious part.”
“Well, then, what was? Oh, I say, I do wish you wouldn’t keep on prosing about what nobody wants to hear. There, go on and get it finished.”
“All right; don’t hurry a fellow,” said Murray. “I can’t dash off things as quickly as you can.”
Roberts wrenched himself round so that he could look fiercely at his companion, and he spoke with quite an angry snap.
“Is that meant for a sneer?” he said.
“No, my son; not a bit of it, unless it contains just a go at myself for being so slow.”
“Ho!” ejaculated Roberts. “Well, what’s the curious thing about your chap who had been nearly drowned?”
“They brought him to—” said Murray deliberately.