The night had become dark, and Barney was able, without being seen, to come near enough to Woodward to hear his words and observe his actions.

He tapped at the old man's window, which, after some delay and a good deal of grumbling, was at length opened to him.

The hut consisted of only one room--a fact which Barney well knew.
"Who is there ?" said the old herbalist.

"Why do you come at this hour to deprive me of my rest?
Nobody comes for any good purpose at such an hour as this." "Open your door, you hypocritical old sinner, and I will speak to you.
Open your door instantly." "Wait, then; I will open it; to be sure--I will open it; because I know whoever you are that if there was not something extraordinary in it, it isn't at this hour you'd be coming to me." "Open the door I say, and then I shall speak to you." The window, which the old herbalist had opened, and, in the hurry of the moment, left unshut, remained unshut, and Barney, after Woodward had entered, stood close to it in order to hear the conversation which might pass between them.
"Now," said Woodward, after he had entered the hut, "I want a dose from you.

One of my dogs, I fear, is seized with incipient symptoms of hydrophobia, and I wish to dose him to death." "And what hour is this to come for such a purpose ?" asked Sol Donnel.