He staggered back into the passage, feeling that his senses were leaving him. Supporting himself by the wall, he passed through the waiting-room, gained the surgery proper, and was clutching at the counter when a figure appeared in the doorway. It was the Hooligan--with an uglier look than ever in his eyes. Jim saw the brutal face and the uplifted belt. The man was going to hit him again. The belt rose--but of a sudden help arrived from an unexpected quarter, for at that moment a little, quick-moving man entered the surgery, and, noting the position of affairs, seized the Hooligan’s wrists, and brought the ruffian to the floor with a neat trip. "I got your card, and came along as soon as I could," said Koko. "By the way, who’s your friend?" "Oh, he was only getting even with me," said Jim. "I hit him earlier in the day." The Hooligan’s wife was endeavouring to make her husband leave the waiting-room, but he seemed anxious to renew the combat. Her expostulations ceased abruptly, however--as did the man’s maledictions--and a new voice fell upon the hearing of the two friends. "Now, my good people, do you want anything here? If you will wait a few moments you shall be attended to." Then Jim and Koko saw the doorway of the surgery proper filled by a portly form. "You are Mr Mortimer, I believe?" said the new arrival. "I am Dr Taplow. I am greatly obliged to my friend Sir Savile for obtaining your services for me, and must thank you for acting as my _locum tenens_ to-day. I am accompanied, however, by the gentleman I myself have appointed to take charge of the practice, and so I shall not require you after to-day." Jim bowed. "Very good, sir," he replied. "By the way--are you hurt?" inquired Dr Taplow. "It’s only a scratch," said Jim, reaching down his hat. "Indeed! I was afraid it was something worse ... er--if you will let me know what I owe you, I will send you a cheque ... er ... come in, Dr Perkins, come in ... er--_good_ evening, Mr Mortimer!" *CHAPTER XI.* *MR MAYBURY’S RESOLVE.* Mr Maybury received a long and severe curtain lecture from his wife on the night of Jim’s arrival at No. 9, the subject of it being Jim Mortimer and Jim Mortimer’s delinquencies. "After the disgraceful revelations of this evening," said the good dame, as, having blown out the candle, her lord composed himself for slumber, "we can’t allow him to stay with us. It would give the house a bad name. People would tattle and gossip until we should be obliged to move. Imagine! Drunk and disorderly! fought the policemen! had to be bound with ropes and taken in an ambulance to a police-station----" "I hardly think it was quite so bad as that," Mr Maybury interrupted in a mild, sleepy voice.