[_Smiling._] You're a philosopher, Dick.
DICK.
Doesn't the possibility of an extremely unpleasant demise tempt you to a few appropriate reflections?
ALEC.
I don't know that it does. I'm a bit of a fatalist, and my theory is that when my time comes nothing can help me, but at the bottom of my heart I can't resist the conviction that I shan't die till I let myself.
DOCTOR.
Well, I must go and put things in order. I'll bandage those fellows up, and I hope they'll stand the jolting.
ALEC.
What about Perkins?
DOCTOR.
Lord knows! I'll try and keep him quiet with chloral.
ALEC.
You needn't say anything about striking camp. I don't propose that any one should know till a quarter of an hour before we start.
DOCTOR.
But that won't give them time.
ALEC.
It must. I've trained them often enough to get on the march quickly.
DOCTOR.
Very well.
[GEORGE ALLERTON _comes in as the_ DOCTOR _is on the point of going_.
GEORGE.
Can I come in?
ALEC.
Yes ... Doctor!
DOCTOR.
Hulloa!
ALEC.
You might stay a minute, will you?
DOCTOR.
[_Coming back._] Certainly.
ALEC.
Didn't Selim tell you that I wanted to speak to you?
GEORGE.
That's why I've come.
ALEC.
You've taken your time about it.
GEORGE.
I say, could you give me a drink of brandy? I'm awfully done up.
ALEC.
[_Shortly._] There's no brandy left.
GEORGE.
Hasn't the doctor got some?
ALEC.
No!
[_There is a pause._ ALEC _looks at him slowly_.
GEORGE.
Why are you all looking at me like that? You look as if you were going to try me for something.
DICK.
Nonsense! Don't be so nervous.
ALEC.