"The nurse seemed to think he was doing well, sir. I believe the doctor is coming round almost at once."
The words had scarcely left her lips when, through the window, I saw Ritchie's car roll up to the door, and Ritchie himself step out.
"There he is," I exclaimed, getting up from the table. "Ask him to come in here a moment, will you?"
She went out, and I heard the front door open. A minute later, the doctor, carrying a glossy hat and dressed in an irreproachable grey frock-coat, entered the room.
"Good morning, Mr. Northcote," he said, extending a hand, which I shook heartily. "And how is the patient this morning?"
"Well, doctor," I said, "that's one reason why I wanted to see you. We had rather an exciting time last night."
He raised his eyebrows interrogatively, and without further waste of time I trotted out the same old lie which had already done duty for the nurse.
"It was a burglary," I said, "or rather, an attempted burglary. I had engaged another man, called Francis, in place of Milford and I woke up in the middle of the night and found him in my room, trying to break into my desk." (This last touch, I thought, was particularly happy!)
"Dear me! Dear me!" interjected the doctor, in a shocked voice.
"Of course I tackled him," I continued; "but he made such a noise that, unfortunately, he woke up Milford. In spite of his nurse, the plucky fellow insisted on coming upstairs; and just as he reached the landing, my man broke away and made a dash for the door. There was a scuffle in the passage, and Milford got bowled over."