Fortunately, on reaching the first floor he remembered that Lady Dunborough had requested him to convey her compliments to Dr. Addington, with an inquiry how Lord Chatham did.  The tutor felt that a commonplace interview of this kind would settle his nerves; and having learned the position of Dr. Addington’s apartments, he found his way down the snug passage of which we know and knocked at the door.  A voice, disagreeably raised, was speaking on the other side of the door, but paused at the sound of his knock.  Some one said ‘Come in,’ and he entered.

He found Dr. Addington standing on the hearth, stiff as a poker, and swelling with dignity.  Facing him stood Mr. Fishwick.  The attorney, flustered and excited, cast a look at Mr. Thomasson as if his entrance were an added grievance; but that done, went on with his complaint.

‘I tell you, sir,’ he said, ’I do not understand this.  His lordship was able to travel yesterday, and last evening he was well enough to see Sir George Soane.’

‘He did not see him,’ the physician answered stiffly.  There is no class which extends less indulgence to another than the higher grade of professional men to the lower grade.  While to Sir George Mr. Fishwick was an odd little man, comic, and not altogether inestimable, to Dr. Addington he was an anathema.

‘I said only, sir, that he was well enough to see him,’ the lawyer retorted querulously.  ’Be that as it may, his lordship was not seriously ill yesterday.  To-day I have business of the utmost importance with him, and am willing to wait upon him at any hour.  Nevertheless you tell me that I cannot see him to-day, nor to-morrow—­’

‘Nor in all probability the next day,’ the doctor answered grimly.

Mr. Fishwick’s voice rose almost to a shriek.  ‘Nor the next day?’ he cried.

‘No, nor the next day, so far as I can judge.’

‘But I must see him!  I tell you, sir, I must see him,’ the lawyer ejaculated.  ‘I have the most important business with him!’

‘The most important?’

‘The most important!’

‘My dear sir,’ Dr. Addington said, raising his hand and clearly near the end of his patience, ’my answer is that you shall see him—­when he is well enough to be seen, and chooses to see you, and not before!  For myself, whether you see him now or never see him, is no business of mine.  But it is my business to be sure that his lordship does not risk a life which is of inestimable value to his country.’

‘But—­but yesterday he was well enough to travel!’ murmured the lawyer, somewhat awed.  ‘I—­I do not like this!’

The doctor looked at the door.

‘I—­I believe I am being kept from his lordship!’ Mr. Fishwick persisted, stuttering nervously.  ’And there are people whose interest it is to keep me from his lordship.  I warn you, sir, that if anything happens in the meantime—­’

The doctor rang the bell.