Part 41 (2/2)

John laid his hand on Mrs. Ambrose's arm in utmost bewilderment and looked at her as though to ask if it were true. She nodded gravely.

Before John had time to recover himself from the shock of the news, footsteps were heard outside, and the loud altercation of angry voices.

John Short leaned his shoulder against the door and put his foot against it below, expecting an attack.

CHAPTER XXIV.

When Mr. Ambrose undertook to reason with the detective he went directly towards the study where John said the man was waiting. But Mr. Booley was beginning to suspect that the doctor was not coming to speak with him as the squire had promised, and after hesitating for a few moments followed John into the library, determining to manage matters himself. As he opened the door he met Mr. Ambrose coming towards him, and at the same moment Mr. Juxon and Doctor Longstreet entered from the opposite end of the long room. The cheerful and active physician was talking in a rather excited tone.

”My dear sir,” said he, ”I cannot pretend to say that the man will or will not recover. I must see him again. Things look quite differently by daylight, and six or seven hours may make all the change in the world. To say that he can be moved to-day or even to-morrow, is absurd. I will stake my reputation as a pract.i.tioner--Hulloa!”

The exclamation was elicited by Mr. Booley, who had pushed past Mr.

Ambrose and stood confronting the doctor with a look which was intended to express a combination of sarcasm, superior cunning and authority.

”This is Mr. Booley,” explained the squire. ”Doctor Longstreet will tell you what he has been telling me,” he added turning to the detective.

”I must see this man instantly,” said the latter somewhat roughly. ”I believe I am being trifled with, and I will not submit to it. No, sir, I will not be trifled with, I a.s.sure you! I must see this man at once. It is absolutely necessary to identify him.”

”And I say,” said Doctor Longstreet with equal firmness, ”that I must see him first, in order to judge whether you can see him or not--”

”It is for me to judge of that,” returned Mr. Booley, with more haste than logic.

”After you have seen him, you cannot judge whether you ought to see him or not,” retorted Doctor Longstreet growing red in the face. The detective attempted to push past him. At this moment John Short hastily left the room and fled upstairs to warn Mrs. Ambrose of what was happening.

”Really,” said Mr. Ambrose, making a vain attempt to stop the course of events, ”this is very unwarrantable.”

”Unwarrantable!” cried Mr. Booley. ”Unwarrantable, indeed! I have the warrant in my pocket. Mr. Juxon, sir, I fear I must insist.”

”Permit me,” said Mr. Juxon, planting his square and st.u.r.dy form between the door and the detective. ”You may certainly insist, but you must begin by listening to reason.”

Charles Juxon had been accustomed to command others for the greater part of his life, and though he was generally the most un.o.btrusive and gentle of men, when he raised his voice in a tone of authority his words carried weight. His blue eyes stared hard at Mr. Booley, and there was something imposing in his square head--even in the unruffled smoothness of his brown hair. Mr. Booley paused and discontentedly thrust his hands into his pockets.

”Well?” he said.

”Simply this,” answered the squire. ”You may accompany us to the door of the room; you may wait with me, while Doctor Longstreet goes in to look at the patient. If the man is unconscious you may go in and see him. If he chances to be in a lucid interval, you must wait until he is unconscious again. It will not be long. That is perfectly reasonable.”

”Perfectly,” echoed Mr. Ambrose, biting his long upper lip and glaring as fiercely at Mr. Booley as though he had said it all himself.

”Absolutely reasonable,” added Doctor Longstreet.

”Well, we will try it,” said the detective moodily. ”But I warn you I will not be trifled with.”

”n.o.body is trifling with you,” answered the squire coldly. ”This way if you please.” And he forthwith led the way upstairs, followed by Mr.

Booley, the physician and the vicar.

Before they reached the door, however, the discussion broke out again.

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