"Ibegyourpardon," hesaid, "?" Andthen, whenhehadheardthelandlordout, "Itcannotbe, itcannotbe," headded, "andyetIwouldlikewelltoseehimfacetoface."
"Doyouknowhim, Doctor?" askedtheundertaker, withagasp.
"Godforbid!" wasthereply."Andyetthenameisastrangeone;, landlord, isheold?"
"Well," saidthehost, "heisnotayoungman, tobesure, andhishairiswhite;buthelooksyoungerthanyou."
"Heisolder, though;," withaslapuponthetable, "it'stherumyouseeinmyface—, perhaps, , asoneofthemhadphrasedit, , althoughenergetic, , withagreatgoldwatch-chain, -foldedtie, whiteandspeckledwithlilac, , breathing, ashedid, ofwealthandconsideration;anditwasasurprisingcontrasttoseeourparloursot—bald, dirty, pimpled, androbedinhisoldcamletcloak—confronthimatthebottomofthestairs."
"Macfarlane!" hesaidsomewhatloudly, morelikeaheraldthanafriend.
Conscience!, old, decentChristian, wouldyounot?Butno, notI;;butthebrains"—witharattlingfilliponhisbaldhead—"thebrainswereclearandactive, andIsawandmadenodeductions."
"Ifyouknowthisdoctor," Iventuredtoremark, afterasomewhatawfulpause, "Ishouldgatherthatyoudonotsharethelandlord'sgoodopinion."
Fettespaidnoregardtome.
"Yes," hesaid, withsuddendecision, "Imustseehimfacetoface."
Therewasanotherpause, andthenadoorwasclosedrathersharplyonthefirstfloor, andastepwashearduponthestair.
"That'sthedoctor," criedthelandlord."Looksharp, andyoucancatchhim."
