"Oh, if you please, sir, Mr. Cray has been looking for you everywhere"----
"I have been to Thorndyke," interrupted the doctor.
"Yes, sir, but he thought you must have come back, and he sent me to about twenty places to inquire. There's something wrong with Lady Oswald, sir, and he wants to see you about it."
"What is it that's wrong?"
"Mr. Cray didn't explain to me, sir; but he said something about an operation. She's hurt internally, sir, I think."
"Where is Mr. Cray? Do you know?"
"He is gone to your house, sir. Somebody told him, they saw your carriage going along, and Mr. Cray thought you might be at home. He"----
Dr. Davenal waited to hear no more. He made the best of his way towards home, but before he reached it he met Mark Cray.
There in the street, particulars were explained by Mr. Cray to Dr. Davenal, not altogether to the doctor's satisfaction. It appeared that Mark--very carelessly, but he excused himself on the plea of Lady Oswald's fractious refusal to be touched--had omitted to make a proper examination of her state on the previous night. The delay, though not fatal, was inexpedient, rendering the operation which must now be performed one of more difficulty than if it had been done at once; and Dr. Davenal spoke a few sharp words, the only sharp ones he had ever in his life spoken to Mark Cray.
"I told you it was my opinion there was some internal injury. You ought to have ascertained."