He was pondering over the possibilities of the situation when Martha Jane arrived with his tea. She had evidently accepted her appointment as Nancy's understudy in a serious spirit, for she not only filled his cup, but stood by with watchful solicitude until she was certain that he was provided with everything that he required. Just as she was turning to leave the room there came a ring at the bell. "I wonder if that's our friend Joe Bates," said Colin. "If it is, bring him in at once." There was an interval of nearly a minute, and then, looking rather flushed and ruffled, Martha Jane reappeared, closing the door behind her. "It ain't 'im," she announced; "it's a patient. 'E's waiting outside." She nodded toward the hall. "Oh, hang it all!" exclaimed Colin. "This is my hour off. I'm not going to see any more patients until six. Why on earth didn't you tell him?" "Tell 'im!" repeated Martha Jane indignantly. "I told 'im right enough." "And do you mean to say he won't go away?" "'E just pushed me on one side and sat himself down," was the answer. "'E says 'e means to wait 'ere until you come out." Colin rose to his feet, and, swiftly crossing the room, threw open the door. A man who was seated on one of the hall chairs jumped up at his appearance. He was a rough-looking customer of the longshoreman type, with a deep scar on one side of his face and a dirty handkerchief knotted round his neck. Colin walked up to him. "What do you mean by forcing your way into the house?" he demanded. "If you want to see me you can go round to the surgery and wait until it's open." The intruder stood his ground, fumbling awkwardly with his cap. "No offence, doctor," he muttered. "If I done wrong I asks yer pardon." "Well, you heard what I said," returned Colin. "There's the door behind you." The man still made no attempt to move. "Don't be 'ard, doctor," he said hoarsely. "I want yer to come along and see a pal o' mine, a pore bloke wot's 'ad a haccident dahn at Truscott's wharf." Colin shook his head. "I can't manage it now," he said. "I've got to be here at six to see my patients." "You can be back before then, doctor," persisted the other eagerly. "It's only a step from 'ere--s'elp me Gawd, it is." "I know the place," said Colin. "It will take a good twenty minutes to get there." "'E ain't on the wharf now," explained the other. "We've carried 'im along to 'is own 'ouse." "Where's that?" demanded Colin. The man hesitated. "It's dahn at the bottom o' Flood Lane. One o' them old 'ouses backin' on the river." Colin recognized the spot from his description--a ruinous and half-deserted slum, most of which had already been demolished. Before he could speak, however, the visitor resumed his petition. "For Gawd's sake come along an' 'ave a look at 'im, guv'nor. We can't find no other doctor, an' 'e's sufferin' somethin' crool."