The telephone bell rang.

"Hullo!" cried Eltham--"hard luck, Doctor!"--but I could see that he
welcomed the interruption. "Why!" he added, "it is one o'clock!"

I went to the telephone.

"Is that Dr. Petrie?" inquired a woman's voice.

"Yes; who is speaking?"

"Mrs. Hewett has been taken more seriously ill. Could you come at
once?"

"Certainly," I replied, for Mrs. Hewett was not only a profitable
patient but an estimable lady--"I shall be with you in a quarter of
an hour."

I hung up the receiver.

"Something urgent?" asked Eltham, emptying his pipe.

"Sounds like it. You had better turn in."

"I should much prefer to walk over with you, if it would not be
intruding. Our conversation has ill prepared me for sleep."

"Right!" I said; for I welcomed his company; and three minutes later
we were striding across the deserted common.