"
The Doctor bent his head, pointed up at a window, and whispered; then
went softly up the three steps into the house.
He left the two friends staring at each other. They stood and stared
at each other for three minutes or more. Then Captain Barker spoke
in a hoarse whisper.
"Jemmy, do you know anything about this--this kind of business?"
"Nothing. I was abroad, you know, when my own little maid--"
"Yes, I remember. But I thought, perhaps--say, I can't go home
till--till I've seen the Doctor again."
"Nor I."
A dull moan sounded within the house.
"Oh, my God!" groaned Captain Runacles; "Meg--Meg!"
A lattice was opened softly above them and the doctor leant out.
"Go away--you two!" he whispered and waved his hand towards the gate.
"But, Doctor--"
"H'sh! I'll come and tell you when it's over. Where shall you be?"
"At the Three Crowns, down the street here."
"Right."
The lattice was closed again very gently. Captain Barker laid his
hand upon the tall man's sleeve.
"Jemmy, we're out of this action. I thought I knew what it meant to
lay-to and have to look on while a fight went forward; but I didn't.
Come--"
They passed out of the courtyard and down the street towards the
Three Crowns.
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