Page:The Death-Doctor.djvu/311

Rh expressed hope that none of it had gone upon his clothes, he said with a laugh:

"Oh, no! It's really nothing—a mere accident."

So we drank together, chatted for a few moments, discussed the programme, and agreed that it was not up to the usual standard of the house.

Ten minutes later he had accepted one of my cigarettes, and had paid for a drink for me.

Knowing that Farnell had never mentioned me, I told him my real name. Indeed, I gave him my card, which showed that I was a medical man, while he gave me one of his.

Presently I went back with my new acquaintance to witness the latest dance. But we voted it poor, and before we parted we went again to the bar.

I was much gratified to find that he seemed to have taken quite a fancy to me. Why, I cannot tell. Perhaps it was because I had been telling him some funny hospital stories, which he declared were quite fresh to him, and certainly they caused him to laugh heartily.

"I wonder that you smoke cigarettes without a mouthpiece!" I suddenly exclaimed. "We doctors never do. It is not healthy to allow your lungs to do the same work as a plug of