Page:Bailey - Call Mr Fortune (Dutton, 1921).djvu/39

28 He was gone some time.

When he came back the Archduke was still there. "All goes well, doctor?"

"I begin to think so."

"I must not delay you. My dear doctor! If only your hopes are realized. What happiness!" He slid out of the room.

Reggie went to the table and picked up the glass of strychnine solution. From behind the curtain Superintendent Bell rushed out and caught his arm. "Don't use it, sir," he said hoarsely. Superintendent Bell was flushed.

"Don't be an ass," said Reggie. He put the glass down, took up the bottle of tablets, turned them out on a sheet of paper, and began to count them.

"Good Lord!" said Superintendent Bell. "You laid for him, did you? What a plant!"

"You know, you're an impertinence," Reggie said, and went on counting.

"I'll get on to Mr. Lomas, sir," said the Superintendent humbly.

"Don't you telephone or I'll scrag you."

"Telephone? Not me. I say, sir, you're some doctor." He fled.

Reggie finished his counting and whistled. "He did himself proud," said he. "The blighter!" He shot the tablets back into their bottle, found another bottle and poured into it the solution, and locked