Naturally, I could draw no special inference from the sound; but, for all that, it filled me with a breathless interest and suspicion, which held me irresistibly at the peephole--though the moment before I had made up my mind to fly from the house.
"Moses is awkward as well as lazy," said the doctor.

"He has dropped the tray! Oh, dear, dear me! he has certainly dropped the tray." "Let's take our learned friend downstairs between us," suggested Sam.

"I shan't be easy till we've got him out of the house." "And I shan't be easy if we don't handcuff him before we leave the room," returned the other.
"Rude conduct, gentlemen--after all that has passed, remarkably rude conduct," said the doctor.

"May I, at least, get my hat while my hands are at liberty?
It hangs on that peg opposite to us." He moved toward it a few steps into the middle of the room while he spoke.
"Stop!" said Sam; "I'll get your hat for you.

We'll see if there's anything inside it or not, before you put it on." The doctor stood stockstill, like a soldier at the word, Halt.
"And I'll get the handcuffs," said the other runner, searching his coat-pockets.
The doctor bowed to him assentingly and forgivingly.
"Only oblige me with my hat, and I shall be quite ready for you," he said--paused for one moment, then repeated the words, "Quite ready," in a louder tone--and instantly disappeared through the floor! I saw the two officers rush from opposite ends of the room to a great opening in the middle of it.