THE SILVER FOX 187 



Dr. Hallalmn opened the door of a room 

 on the landing. 



" This is a spare room, I think " he 



said, and stopped short. 



A woman started up from a table at 

 which she was writing, and stared at them. 

 Her hair was straw-coloured, and drooped 

 in nauseous picturesqueness over her coal- 

 black eyebrows ; her face was fat and white, 

 her dress was a highly-coloured effort at 

 the extreme of the latest fashion but one; 

 the general effect was elderly. 



" I beg your pardon," said Dr. Hallahan, 

 recovering himself ; ** we've brought Captain 

 French here, he's very badly hurt, and I 

 can't take him any farther. Perhaps you 

 could show us where to put him — or ask 

 Mr. Glasgow ? " 



" Mr. Glasgow has left ; '* the voice was 

 nasal and cockney. " You can take the 

 gentleman into his room for the present, 

 but I'm going to have an auction of this 

 furniture in less than a week. I'm just 

 taking an inventory now." 



