“Has that man gone?” came from within.
“Yes, sir.”
“Bring up the brandy.”
Mrs Milt uttered a sigh.
“May I bring you up a little broth, sir, too?” she whispered, with her face close to the panel. “You’ve had nothing to-day, sir, and you must be growing faint.”
“Bring up the brandy!” roared North fiercely. “Do you hear?”
“And him to speak to me like that!” sighed the housekeeper, as she went down for the spirit decanter; “and for him, too, who never took anything but tea for days together, to be asking for brandy in this reckless way. Five times have I filled up the spirit decanter this week.”
She returned with the brandy and knocked.
No answer.
“I’ve brought the brandy, sir.”