Page:The Death-Doctor.djvu/149

Rh "Poor little chap," I said very sympathetically, "I'm so sorry for him. Can I go and cheer him up a little?"

"Please do, Dr. d'Escombe," said the lady with a grateful look. "He will be so glad to see you."

I saw him—nasty little youngster!—but I made myself very pleasant, and got a reward for my forbearance that evening when Colonel Matherson thanked me for my kindness.

"What do you think of him?" he asked me.

I was very diplomatic, my dear Brown, I can assure you. I had a rather difficult game to play.

"He doesn't seem to me to be ill," I said with a somewhat nervous air. "But it is never wise to take things too lightly."

"Just what I said, the very words!" assented the Colonel, evidently very pleased. "I told Dr. Elleston that he is a delicate and highly-strung boy and difficult to understand."

Highly strung! Oh, the value of those two words to us of the medical profession—eh? They will get us out of almost any difficulty if we manipulate them properly!

"I doubt if Dr. Elleston really understands