Page:Arthur Stringer--The House of Intrigue.djvu/112

100 "Why bark at me?" asked the other old man, with a good deal of heat. "What have I done to keep you waiting?"

The other old autocrat gave an impatient snap of his fingers.

"But, gad, sir, they're all here—all here like a pack of blood-hounds sniffing about the trail!"

"Where have you got 'em?"

"How's that?" demanded the other, with his hand behind his ear.

"I say where have you got 'em?" shouted his brother.

"In the big drawing-room—herded there like buzzards on a housetop!"

"I know, I know," was the other's half-impatient retort as he turned back to me. But he did not speak, for as he was about to do so still another figure hurriedly stepped into the room. He stopped short as he saw me. It was plain he had not counted on my presence there.

"Well, Doctor?" snapped out the little man beside me. And the other little man, with his head on one side, stood with cupped hand to catch what might take place. The man who had been addressed as doctor, I noticed, was a good six feet in height and built on