“Confound him!” muttered Falcon. “I am not angry with you, Maria,” he said, turning to the girl, who looked rather scared; “here is half-a-crown for you. I am annoyed by the intrusion just as I was in conversation with your master.”
“I didn’t say who was upstairs, sir.”
“Quite right, Maria,” said the doctor. “Suppose you keep Mr Warner waiting for a few minutes, and then show him up.”
“Very good, sir,” said Maria.
“And where am I to disappear to, doctor?” anxiously asked his patient.
“Step into my skeleton case, Mr Falcon, if you are not too squeamish. It’s quite empty, as the tenant’s bones were removed last week for fresh articulation; they were dropping all to pieces.”
“All right! Here’s in, anyhow, and if I scratch my finger-nail gently on the inside of the door, you will know that you are saying what I don’t like; but as long as I keep quiet you can go ahead, doctor; you understand?”
“Thoroughly. I have unlimited discretionary power unless you scratch with your finger-nail.”
Doctor Peters having almost closed the door of case, and hearing footsteps, cried out,—
“Come in, Mr Warner, I am at your service.”