“No, my dear; something much stronger than that.”
“That’s a new improvement, Henry,” said Mrs Morley.
“There, she won’t let me tell you, Archie. You ask me, and I will tell you the story some day when we are alone.”
“Oh no, Doctor; you have raised my curiosity, and I want to hear it now.”
“Oh, pray go on,” said Mrs Morley.
“Well, don’t interrupt me, then.”
Minnie and Archie exchanged laughing glances, and the Doctor went on:
“Well, I got him down in a chair, and as he lay back he opened his mouth and displayed a tremendous set of the biggest and whitest teeth I ever saw.”
“Ahem!” coughed Minnie, with a merry look at Archie.
“Fine, healthy-looking man he was, but he had the regular savage Malay look in his eyes; but I gained courage directly I saw what was the matter. There was one great double tooth which was evidently the cause of all the trouble, and I knew at once that he would have no peace till it was drawn. There was a position for a medical man! And I could not help feeling that I was quite at his mercy. I went to a drawer and took out an instrument, and as I approached him he glared at me more savagely than ever, and laid his right hand once more upon the ugly, pistol-like hilt of his kris. Now, sir, what would you have done under the circumstances?”