You simply couldn't." "Why not ?" said Nick.
"Oh, Nick, you don't! You know you don't! He's so cold-blooded and cynical." "Do you want to know what he was up to last night ?" said Nick.
"Yes, tell me!" said Olga.
"He was sent for last thing by some people who live in that filthy alley--near the green pond.

A child was choking.

They thought it had swallowed a pin.

When he got there, he found it was diphtheria at its most advanced stage.

The child was at death's door.