Page:The Other House (London, William Heinemann, 1896), Volume 2.djvu/180

166 I appreciate greatly," he added, "the gallantry of your reminding me of my danger. Don't think I don't know exactly what it is. But I have to think of the danger of others. I can measure mine; I can't measure theirs."

"I can return your compliment," Dennis replied. "'Theirs,' as you call it, seems to me such a fine thing for you to care for."

The Doctor, with his plump hands folded on his stomach, gave a small stony smile. "My dear man, I care for my friends!"

Dennis stood before him; he was visibly mystified. "There's a person whom it's very good of you to take this occasion of calling by that name!"

Doctor Ramage stared; with his vision of his interlocutor's mistake all his tight curves grew tense. Then, as he sprang to his feet, he seemed to crack in a grim little laugh. "The person you allude to is, I confess, not, my dear sir"

"One of the persons," said Dennis, "whom you wish to protect? It certainly would have surprised me to hear it! But you spoke of your 'friends.' Who then is your second one?"