"That's done," he said. "All you have to do now is to keep still for a while." He paused and turned to Banks. "Has he been insulting and assaulting somebody else lately?" he asked.
"Don't know," returned the New Yorker. "Why?"
"Just an idea of mine," replied Nash. "Some men are not as good-natured as I am, you know. Somebody took a shot at him—and I was just wondering why. It does not often happen 'round here."
"You are the only person I have behaved like that to," said Rayton, "and—and—well, I am dashed sorry I lost my temper. I beg your pardon, Nash. I am very sorry, honestly. I behaved like a cad."
"You should have thought of that before," sneered Nash.
At that moment old Captain Wigmore entered the room on the tips of his neat little toes, smiling behind his whiskers.
"I see you've brought your company manners with you," said Nash. "I thought you saved them up for the ladies." He had the old fellow on his black list.
"Is that you, doctor?" returned the captain pleasantly. "So you have been patching up this young man, I see. What do you think of your work?"
"Of my work? Oh, I guess my work is good enough. Have you anything to say about it?"
"Why, yes, now that you ask me. Five or six inches to the side would have done the job. Why didn't you do it when you were at it?"