"We shall certainly not be there," replied Mr Maybury. "We shall see. You’ve got a night to sleep on it. My father is ill, and is away on the Continent. I am head of the firm during his absence. Fail to keep your contract to-morrow afternoon, and you need never show your face in my office again. Were my father in London he would support me, for he will not see me insulted in this manner. I will telegraph to him, if you like." "You need not do that," said Mr Maybury, moving towards the door; "I accept my dismissal at your hands." Jefferson laughed again. "I really think you cannot be quite sober. Just reflect on what you are doing. Can you afford to throw up your job with us?" Mr Maybury turned fiercely upon the young man. "_Afford_! Listen to me, Mr Jefferson. My child’s happiness is to me a matter of higher importance than my post in your firm. I am a poor man--Heaven knows!--and want every penny I earn as your book-keeper, but that fact will not deter me from doing what I conceive to be my duty. I say my child shall _not_ marry you." And without another word Dora’s father turned on his heel and went his way. *CHAPTER XXIX.* *THE DOCTOR VISITS MOUNT STREET.* When Koko left No. 9, after seeing Jim put to bed, he went straight to Taplow’s surgery, and was lucky enough to find that the bearded man was still there. "Doctor, I want you to spend the night with Mortimer," said Koko. "Impossible," said the bearded man. "I have an urgent case which will keep me up till four." "What’s to be done, then?" "Get a trained nurse--I’ll give you the address of a place in the West End where about two hundred of them live when they have no case on. Telephone the manageress, and say you want a nurse sent to No. 9 Derby Crescent to-night. I’ll look in at breakfast-time." He gave Koko the address of the nurses’ home. "Right!" said Koko. "Now, doctor, tell me candidly--has Mortimer got a chance?" "Not a ghost of one," said the bearded man; "even if he pulled through he would be paralysed for the rest of his life, but he won’t pull through. The mischief is in the spine--where he was kicked." "I shot the fellow," said Koko, between his teeth. "Did you? Well, I don’t suppose he will be much loss. If the police were allowed to carry revolvers we shouldn’t hear much more of this Hooliganism." Koko paced restlessly up and down the surgery, and then turned abruptly to the bearded man. "Look here, doctor," he exclaimed, "I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but is it possible that you’re mistaken about my friend Mortimer?" "Time will show," said the bearded man, coldly. "I give him twenty-four hours. Now, if you’re ready, I’ll turn the gas out. I must be off."