The door of the room in question was pushed open, and Dr.West came out of it.

Had Master Cheese witnessed the arrival of an inhabitant from the other world, introduced by the most privileged medium extant, he could not have experienced more intense astonishment.

He had truly believed, as he had just expressed it, that Dr.West was at that moment a good mile away.
"Put your hat on, Cheese," said Dr.West.
Cheese put it on, going into a perspiration at the same time.

He thought nothing less than that he was about to be dismissed.
"Take this note up to Sir Rufus Hautley's." It was a great relief; and Master Cheese received the note in his hand, and went off whistling.
"Step in here, Mr.Jan," said the doctor.
Jan took one of his long legs over the counter, jumped off, and stepped in--into the doctor's sanctum.

Had Jan been given to speculation, he might have wondered what was coming; but it was Jan's method to take things cool and easy, as they came, and not to anticipate them.
"My health has been bad of late," began the doctor.
"Law!" cried Jan.