Page:Bailey - Call Mr Fortune (Dutton, 1921).djvu/37

26 "Very kind of Mr. Lomas."

There was a tap at the door. The Archduke Leopold's valet appeared. The Archduke Leopold was much surprised that Dr. Fortune had not brought him news of the patient. The Archduke Leopold desired that Dr. Fortune would come to him immediately.

"Really?" Reggie said. "Dr. Fortune's compliments to the Archduke, and he is much occupied. He can give the Archduke a few moments."

The valet, having the appearance of a man who has never been so surprised in his life, retired.

"It's a gift," Superintendent Bell murmured. "It's a gift, you know. I never could handle the nobs."

Reggie began to get together some odds and ends; a bottle full of tiny white tablets, a graduated glass, a jug of water, a hypodermic syringe. "You'd better clear out, you know," he said to Superintendent Bell.

"Will he come?"

"He'll come all right," Reggie said, and took off his coat. When he turned, Superintendent Bell had vanished.

"Just setting the stage, sir?" said a voice from behind the curtain.

"Confound your impertinence," Reggie growled. "Here"

But the Archduke came in. He was now a decoration in a russet brown. "You are very mysterious, Dr.