Page:The Yellow Book - 08.djvu/141

wrote a note explaining the nature of the injury, then rang the bell, and met the messenger outside the room.

"Take this letter to Doctor Eastern," I said. "Bring him back with you."

Then I locked the door and waited. My fears, I confess, were selfish, but the dread of losing Mayfair was more than I dared contemplate. In a little he moved, raising himself upon one elbow.

"What—where———?"

"Be quiet, there's a dear fellow," I whispered.

"Oh, I remember," he said, trembling at the sight of the red bandages. "I'm peppered, zounds, a dog, a cat, to scratch a man to death! a braggart—how does it go? Oh—h!" He fainted again.

By the time the doctor arrived I had decided upon my course of action. "You know my name," I said. "Well, this gentleman has been stabbed. It was a stupid quarrel. I take all responsibility, you understand. It's an unfortunate business, and I want it to be kept quiet."

The doctor was young and accommodating, and, after an examination of the injury, pronounced it to be nothing more than a flesh-wound.

"Can he be moved?" I asked.

"Oh, yes."

He dressed the wound and left, promising to call in the evening at the address I should send.

In half an hour Mayfair was able to converse. I decided to remove him at once, and, without attracting any particular attention, succeeded in getting him downstairs, and into a cab. I gave the driver the address of my rooms.

"No, no," he whispered, "take me home.""To