"I'm sorry to trouble you, sir," she said, "but would you come round
with me? My mistress has been taken worse."
"What's the matter with her?" I inquired.
"I don't know, sir," answered the woman, in deep distress, "But I do beg
of you to come at once."
"Certainly I will," I said. And leaving her, ascended, put on my boots,
and placing my case of instruments in my pocket, quickly rejoined her,
and entered the cab in waiting.
On our drive along Hammersmith Road, and through several thoroughfares
lying on the right, I endeavoured to obtain from her some idea of the
nature of the lady's ailment; but she was either stupidly ignorant, or
else had received instructions to remain silent.
The cab at last pulled up before a fine grey house with a wide portico,
supported by four immense columns, before which we alighted. The place,
standing close to the entrance to a large square, was a handsome one,
with bright flowers in boxes before the windows, and a striped sun-blind
over the balcony formed by the roof of the portico. The quilted blinds
were down because of the strong sun, but our ring was instantly answered
by a grave-looking footman, who showed me into a cosy library at the end
of the hall.
"I'll tell my master at once that you are here, sir," the man said. And
he closed the door, leaving me alone.