Colin walked up to him.
"What do you mean by forcing your way into the house?" he demanded. "If you want to see me you can go round to the surgery and wait until it's open."
The intruder stood his ground, fumbling awkwardly with his cap.
"No offence, doctor," he muttered. "If I done wrong I asks yer pardon."
"Well, you heard what I said," returned Colin. "There's the door behind you."
The man still made no attempt to move. "Don't be 'ard, doctor," he said hoarsely. "I want yer to come along and see a pal o' mine, a pore bloke wot's 'ad a haccident dahn at Truscott's wharf."
Colin shook his head. "I can't manage it now," he said. "I've got to be here at six to see my patients."
"You can be back before then, doctor," persisted the other eagerly. "It's only a step from 'ere—s'elp me Gawd, it is."
"I know the place," said Colin. "It will take a good twenty minutes to get there."
"'E ain't on the wharf now," explained the other. "We've carried 'im along to 'is own 'ouse."