"I heard—I heard—was it you shouting, Van Zyl?" he inquired, stammeringly, as he came in.
"Yes," replied the sub-inspector, shortly.
"Oh!" Jakes felt uncertainly for his straggling mustache. "Whom were you shouting at?" he inquired, after a moment of hesitation.
"I was speaking to her," replied the other impatiently.
The doctor followed the movement of his hand and the light of his spectacles focused on Margaret stupidly.
"Well." He seemed baffled. "Miss Harding, you mean, eh?"
The sub-inspector nodded. "You 're interrupting an inquiry, Dr. Jakes."
"Oh." Again the doctor seemed to wrestle with thoughts. "Am I?"
"Yes. You 'll excuse us, but—"
"No," said Jakes, with an appearance of grave thought. "No; certainly not. You—you mustn't shout here."