“A tenner, easily.”
“I had one ready for you. Here it is, and I wouldn’t lose any time if I
were you. On the way you might look up Theobald, tell him you’ve got it
and how long you’ll be gone, and that I can’t be left alone all the
time. And, by Jove, yes! You get me a stall for the Lyceum at the
nearest agent’s; there are two or three in High Street; and say it was
given you when you come in. That young man shall be out of the way
to-night.”
I found our doctor in a minute consulting-room and his shirt-sleeves, a
tall tumbler at his elbow; at least I caught sight of the tumbler on
entering; thereafter he stood in front of it, with a futility which had
my sympathy.
“So you’ve got the billet,” said Dr. Theobald. “Well, as I told you
before, and as you have since probably discovered for yourself, you
won’t find it exactly a sinecure. My own part of the business is by no
means that; indeed, there are those who would throw up the case, after
the kind of treatment that you have seen for yourself. But professional
considerations are not the only ones, and one cannot make too many
allowances in such a case.”
“But what is the case?” I asked him. “You said you would tell me if I
was successful.”
Dr. Theobald’s shrug was worthy of the profession he seemed destined to
adorn; it was not incompatible with any construction which one chose to
put upon it. Next moment he had stiffened. I suppose I still spoke more
or less like a gentleman. Yet, after all, I was only the male nurse. He
seemed to remember this suddenly, and he took occasion to remind me of
the fact.
“Ah,” said he, “that was before I knew you were altogether without
experience; and I must say that I was surprised even at Mr. Maturin’s
engaging you after that; but it will depend upon yourself how long I
allow him to persist in so curious an experiment. As for what is the
matter with him, my good fellow, it is no use my giving you an answer
which would be double Dutch to you; moreover, I have still to test your
discretionary powers. I may say, however, that that poor gentleman
presents at once the most complex and most troublesome case, which is
responsibility enough without certain features which make it all but
insupportable. Beyond this I must refuse to discuss my patient for the
present; but I shall certainly go up if I can find time.”
He went up within five minutes. I found him there on my return at dusk.
But he did not refuse my stall for the Lyceum, which Raffles would not
allow me to use myself, and presented to him off-hand without my leave.
“And don’t you bother any more about me till to-morrow,” snapped the
high thin voice as he was off. “I can send for you now when I want you,
and I’m hoping to have a decent night for once.”