The challenge was given with a tilt of the nose and a somewhat suggestive sniff.
“Abdominal colic, madam. The pain is often very violent.”
“Ah, eh, and what may abdominal colic be due to?”
Dr. Inglis bridled at the tone, and attempted the part of Zeus.
“Many causes, very many causes. Mr. Baxter has never had such an attack before, I presume.”
“Never.”
“Yes—how are you feeling, sir?”
“Bad, mighty bad,” came the voice from the feather pillows.
The two austere women seemed to grow taller and more aggressive.
“Do you think you understand the case, doctor?”