He hit a bell on one of the tables as he went by, and asked in a distant, Officer-in-Reserve manner: "You desire ?" The good Davidson, still sponging his wet neck, declared with simplicity that he had come to fetch away Heyst, as agreed.
"Not here!" A Chinaman appeared in response to the bell.

Schomberg turned to him very severely: "Take the gentleman's order." Davidson had to be going.

Couldn't wait--only begged that Heyst should be informed that the Sissie would leave at midnight.
"Not--here, I am telling you!" Davidson slapped his thigh in concern.
"Dear me! Hospital, I suppose." A natural enough surmise in a very feverish locality.
The Lieutenant of the Reserve only pursed up his mouth and raised his eyebrows without looking at him.

It might have meant anything, but Davidson dismissed the hospital idea with confidence.

However, he had to get hold of Heyst between this and midnight: "He has been staying here ?" he asked.
"Yes, he was staying here." "Can you tell me where he is now ?" Davidson went on placidly.