"Yes, sir—perhaps you did, sir. Mr. Wantele had the machine out to go for the doctor. Mrs. Maule is not very well, sir, and Mr. Wantele thought he'd better fetch the doctor as quickly as possible."
Carver's voice gained confidence. His master was behaving "very sensible," and did not seem at all upset. The upsetting part was to be left to Dr. Mallet.
"I was to say, sir, that the doctor would like to see you."
"Who went for the doctor?" asked Richard Maule suddenly.
"Mr. Wantele himself, sir. I heard him say he thought it would lose less time for him to go off at once, than to wait and send anyone."
"And did Mr. Wantele bring the doctor back with him?"
"Yes, sir, I think he did—I think they came back together."
There was a knock at the door, and then the murmur of words outside.
"Who's there?" called out Richard Maule in a strong voice. "What's all that whispering about?" He spoke querulously, as he sometimes did in the morning.
"It's only I—Mallet!"