Dr. Worth, who was no longer the eager-eyed practitioner he once had been, did his best to shake off the puffy chains of sleep.
“I’ll come right down, Miss Murrow.”
“I’ll wait, Doctor.”
“Just want to dash some cold water on my face.”
“No hurry, Doctor.”
He vanished into the room again. Ah, dreamed Miss Murrow, what a man! And he’d never been snappy with her, either. So many were snappy. Someone was coming up the stairs—quickly—two at a time—a policeman—
“Where’s the doctor, miss?” said O’Brian, a little winded.
“He’s coming right out, Officer.”
“I gotta see him at once.”
O’Brian brushed her aside and opened the door. Dr. Worth met him, astonished and glistening, on the threshold.
“Say, lissen, Doctor, the lieutenant just called up, and he said …”
O’Brian thereupon repeated all that the lieutenant had said.
“But, my dear man, this is the most extraordinary thing I have ever heard in my life!” Dr. Worth’s slightly damp eyebrows indulged in a series of gyrations.
“Sure there ain’t no time for astonishments, Doctor,” said O’Brian. “Let’s go—easy and quietlike, now. We’re not to put this bird wise. …”
With O’Brian leading, they started down the stairs.