The Doctor sprang from his seat as his wife entered, drew his chair on one side, and thrust her in.
“Now, be calm, my dear. Be a woman! You know these people?”
“Yes, yes!” exclaimed Mrs Morley in agitated tones, as the woman stepped forward, to go down on one knee and kiss her hand, while the man muttered something and then drew himself up rigidly.
“And you think we can trust—depend upon what they say?” continued the Doctor, with his voice quivering.
“Yes. Speak! Tell me, what is it?” cried Mrs Morley excitedly.
“Well, be calm, then. Be quite calm and firm, as I am. Minnie is alive and safe.”
“Ah!” ejaculated Mrs Morley, as she sank back and buried her face in her hands; while the woman now fell upon her knees, catching up Mrs Morley’s dress and holding it to her lips as if to choke back her sobs.
“And I told you to be firm,” said the Doctor pettishly. “This man has escaped from up-country somewhere—I don’t know the confounded place’s name. He was overtaken and wounded by some of Rajah Suleiman’s people, so that he shouldn’t tell tales, I suppose. But he says he can show us where the young English lady has been kept a prisoner, and that she is quite safe.—Isn’t that so?” he added, turning to the man.
The Malay stared, muttered something, and then turned to look appealingly at his wife.
“Oh, of course! You didn’t tell me; it was she. Let’s see. You are the man that came to me months ago for—” The Doctor finished in pantomime by making believe to take hold of his own jaw, apply a key, and wrench out a tooth.