Just as she was turning to leave the room there came a ring at the bell.
"I wonder if that's our friend Joe Bates," said Colin. "If it is, bring him in at once."
There was an interval of nearly a minute, and then, looking rather flushed and ruffled, Martha Jane reappeared, closing the door behind her.
"It ain't 'im," she announced; "it's a patient. 'E's waiting outside." She nodded toward the hall.
"Oh, hang it all!" exclaimed Colin. "This is my hour off. I'm not going to see any more patients until six. Why on earth didn't you tell him?"
"Tell 'im!" repeated Martha Jane indignantly. "I told 'im right enough."
"And do you mean to say he won't go away?"
"'E just pushed me on one side and sat himself down," was the answer. "'E says 'e means to wait 'ere until you come out."
Colin rose to his feet, and, swiftly crossing the room, threw open the door.
A man who was seated on one of the hall chairs jumped up at his appearance. He was a rough-looking customer of the longshoreman type, with a deep scar on one side of his face and a dirty handkerchief knotted round his neck.