I left the padded door open just now when I came through--in fact I fastened it back." "That wasn't a very clever thing to do!" The doctor did not speak pleasantly, but Tapster took no offence.
"I--I wanted someone to hear," he said humbly; "I felt so shut off through there." "Still, there's no use in waking everybody else up," said Panton, in a businesslike tone.
He didn't look forward to the job which he thought lay before him; but, of course, it wasn't the first time he had been called in to help calm a man who had become violent under the influence of drink.

"Go on," he said curtly.

"Show me the way! I suppose there's a back staircase by which we can go down ?" He followed his guide along the broad corridor to a heavy green baize door.

Stooping, he undid the hook which fastened the door back.

It swung to, and, as it did so, there came a sudden, complete cessation of the noise.
"Hullo!" he said to himself, "that's odd." The two men waited for what seemed to Panton a long time, but in reality it was less than five minutes.
"Would you like to come into my room for a few moments?
I wish you would," said Mr.Tapster plaintively.
Unwillingly the doctor walked through into what was certainly a very pleasant, indeed a luxurious room.