Mr. Lamb was not at all abashed; he never was by reminders of that kind--they were legion. "Why, of course, it's the doctor--the cranky old doctor. I remember you quite well. How are you, old chap? You haven't--you haven't a brace of sovereigns on you now?" "I have not a brace which you are likely to be able to bag, Mr. Lamb. I understand that you have married since I saw you last." "Since you saw me! I was married then." "Indeed? But I gathered that you had since married the widow of an old friend of mine--Mrs. Cuthbert Grahame." "Widow? She wasn't his widow; she never was his wife." "Pardon me, but she went through the Scotch form of marriage with him in my presence." "That was all her dashed impudence. She was my wife long before that; before she ever knew that he was in the world. Doctor, my wife's a devil of a woman, and she's been treating me in a devil of a way. If I were to tell you all that she's been doing, so far as I can understand, mind you--it's quite between ourselves--you'd go straight to a police station, and you'd ask for a warrant; but I'm her husband, so I can't. Listen to me--this is between ourselves--if you'll come to a place I know, and where they know me--most respectable place--and do me the pleasure of having a drink with me--and Talfourd, and the lady--never leave out a lady when it's a question of a little refreshment--I'll tell you what she's just been telling me, not five minutes ago. It'll surprise you. Good as confessed to committing murder; half expected her to murder me--give you my word it's a fact. Come and have a little something and I'll tell you all about it--between ourselves, you know." The doctor exchanged glances with Mr. Talfourd and with Margaret. "It seems to me, Mr. Lamb, that you've had more than a little something already." "You're wrong, old chap--quite wrong; do assure you. It's ether--beastly ether." "Ether?" "Ever heard of the stuff before? I never did. Seems she lives on it; takes it in quarts. She crammed some of it down my throat--fairly took me by the throat and crammed it down. I'm like a child in her hands--give you my word. She's a devil of a woman. Never tasted anything like it before; seems to have sent me stark staring mad. Don't know whether I'm standing on my head or heels. Let's go and have some Christian liquor, and I'll tell you all about it." Again the doctor exchanged glances with his companions. "If you'll allow me to offer you a seat in my cab I'll take you to a friend who'll be able to give you some of the finest whisky in England, and there, at your leisure, you can tell us all about it." "My dear old chap, when they called you cranky I always said that there was more in you than they might think, and I stand to it to the present moment. I say----" The doctor did not wait to hear what he said; he bundled him into a four-wheeled cab after Margaret and Harry. When the cab had started Margaret asked-- "Where are you taking us?"