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recommendation。 All large practices have been built up from such
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foundations。 The hangers…on to the kitchen recommend to the kitchen；
they to the drawing…room； and so it spreads。 At least he could say now
that he had had a patient。
He went into the back room and lit the spirit… kettle to boil the water
for his tea； laughing the while at the recollection of his recent interview。
If all patients were like this one it could easily be reckoned how many it
would take to ruin him completely。 Putting aside the dirt upon his carpet
and the loss of time； there were twopence gone upon the bandage；
fourpence or more upon the medicine； to say nothing of phial； cork； label；
and paper。 Then he had given her fivepence； so that his first patient had
absorbed altogether not less than one sixth of his available capital。 If five
more were to come he would be a broken man。 He sat down upon the
portmanteau and shook with laughter at the thought； while he measured
out his one spoonful and a half of tea at one shilling eightpence into the
brown earthenware teapot。 Suddenly； however； the laugh faded from his
face； and he cocked his ear towards the door； standing listening with a
slanting head and a sidelong eye。 There had been a rasping of wheels
against the curb； the sound of steps outside； and then a loud peal at the bell。
With his teaspoon in his hand he peeped round the corner and saw with
amazement that a carriage and pair were waiting outside； and that a
powdered footman was standing at the door。 The spoon tinkled down
upon the floor； and he stood gazing in bewilderment。 Then； pulling
himself together； he threw open the door。
〃Young man；〃 said the flunky； 〃tell your master； Dr。 Wilkinson； that he
is wanted just as quick as ever he can come to Lady Millbank； at the
Towers。 He is to come this very instant。 We'd take him with us； but we
have to go back to see if Dr。 Mason is home yet。 Just you stir your
stumps and give him the message。〃
The footman nodded and was off in an instant； while the coachman
lashed his horses and the carriage flew down the street。
Here was a new development。 Dr。 Horace Wilkinson stood at his
door and tried to think it all out。 Lady Millbank； of the Towers！ People
of wealth and position； no doubt。 And a serious case； or why this haste
and summoning of two doctors？ But； then； why in the name of all that is
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wonderful should he be sent for？
He was obscure； unknown； without influence。 There must be some
mistake。 Yes； that must be the true explanation； or was it possible that
some one was attempting a cruel hoax upon him？ At any rate； it was too
positive a message to be disregarded。 He must set off at once and settle
the matter one way or the other。
But he had one source of information。 At the corner of the street was
a small shop where one of the oldest inhabitants dispensed newspapers
and gossip。 He could get information there if anywhere。 He put on his
well…brushed top hat； secreted instruments and bandages in all his pockets；
and without waiting for his tea closed up his establishment and started off
upon his adventure。
The stationer at the corner was a human directory to every one and
everything in Sutton； so that he soon had all the information which he
wanted。 Sir John Millbank was very well known in the town； it seemed。
He was a merchant prince； an exporter of pens； three times mayor； and
reported to be fully worth two millions sterling。
The Towers was his palatial seat； just outside the city。 His wife had
been an invalid for some years； and was growing worse。 So far the
whole thing seemed to be genuine enough。 By some amazing chance
these people really had sent for him。
And then another doubt assailed him； and he turned back into the shop。
〃I am your neighbour； Dr。 Horace Wilkinson；〃 said he。 〃Is there any
other medical man of that name in the town？〃
No； the stationer was quite positive that there was not。
That was final； then。 A great good fortune had come in his way； and
he must take prompt advantage of it。 He called a cab and drove furiously
to the Towers； with his brain in a whirl； giddy with hope and delight at one
moment； and sickened with fears and doubts at the next lest the case
should in some way be beyond his powers； or lest he should find at some
critical moment that he was without the instrument or appliance that was
needed。 Every strange and outre case of which he had ever heard or read
came back into his mind； and long before he reached the Towers he had
worked himself into a positive conviction that he would be instantly
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required to do a trephining at the least。
The Towers was a very large house； standing back amid trees； at the
head of a winding drive。 As he drove up the doctor sprang out； paid
away half his worldly assets as a fare； and followed a stately footman who；
having taken his name； led him through the oak…panelled； stained…glass
hall； gorgeous with deers' heads and ancient armour； and ushered him into
a large sitting…room beyond。 A very irritable… looking； acid…faced man
was seated in an armchair by the fireplace； while two young ladies in
white were standing together in the bow window at the further end。
〃Hullo！ hullo！ hullo！ What's thisheh？〃 cried the irritable man。
〃Are you Dr。 Wilkinson？ Eh？〃
〃Yes； sir； I am Dr。 Wilkinson。〃
〃Really； now。 You seem very youngmuch younger than I expected。
Well； well； well； Mason's old； and yet he don't seem to know much about it。
I suppose we must try the other end now。 You're the Wilkinson who
wrote something about the lungs？ H