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 "Ob co'se; an' along comes Doctah Herschel!"

"You blessed old Reuben!" said Eletheer, giving his arm a squeeze. "I believe you can do anything; but wouldn't Dr. Herschel have come anyway?"

"Dat am ezackly de p'int, Honey. De good Lawd already done His part. He done gib Doctah Herschel de talent an' de wisdom to go sperimentin' an' projeckin' wif dat bery ge'm till he found a cuah in 'Old Ninety-Nine's' will. Yes, Honey, he was bo'n fo' dis bery place and de good Lawd sent him."

"You mean, Reuben," said Hernando, "that our every need is met."

"Yes, Massa, when we'se willin'!"

"I agree with you," Hernando added, "and it is becoming more and more clear what I have been in training for: Dr. Herschel proposes founding a hospital for lepers at Hong Kong. It will need intelligent supervision and my own case, together with a knowledge of Chinese acquired at Shushan, seems to have fitted me for just that work."