“And if it isn’t successful?” he said quietly.
“God knows, Bill. I haven’t got as far as that—yet.”
And it was at that moment that there came a ring at the front-door bell. There was a brief altercation; then Jimmy’s man appeared.
“Two—er—persons say you told them——” he began, when Lethbridge cut him short.
“Show them in at once,” he said briefly, and his man went out again.
“You’ve got to remember, Bill,” said Jimmy as they waited, “that Peter Staunton is literally, at the moment, a low-class Cockney.”
Mainwaring nodded, and drew back a little as Peter and the girl came into the room. He wanted to leave the talking to Jimmy, while he watched.
“Good evening, Lizzie,” Lethbridge smiled at the girl reassuringly. “I’m glad you came.”
“Who’s that cove?” demanded the girl suspiciously, staring at Mainwaring.
“A doctor,” said Jimmy. “I want him to have a look at Peter later on.”