is Ogilvie—I used to know him years ago, but have lost sight of him lately. His telegram recalls him to my memory—he is a clever fellow, and bought himself a large practice at a place called Saltmarsh. He has wired to ask if I can send him a locum tenens in a great hurry. This is what he says."
Ray began to read from the telegram:—
"'Wife ill-can't attend to practice. Send Send someone with brains in his head down tonight, if possible.'
"There, Halifax. Put this in your pocket if you mean to attend to it. You have nothing special to do just now. Will you go?"
"How far off is Saltmarsh?" I asked.
"I have an 'ABC' in my room; come and we'll look the place up."
Ray pulled me along with him. We entered his rooms at the corner of the wing, and the next moment had ascertained that it would be possible to reach Saltmarsh by the Great Eastern line in two hours and a half.
"Will you go?" he asked, "it may be an opening for you. In your state of indecision, it is well to take any chance of seeing medical life. Ogilvie will probably only require your services for two or three days, and—in short———"
"It would oblige you if I went?" I interrupted. "That settles the matter."
"No, no. You must not labour under a false impression. Ogilvie was never a friend of mine; I just knew him in the ordinary course, and never took to him in any special way. Will you go, Halifax, just for the chance of seeing life, and helping some poor beggars in the country? If you say no, I must cudgel my brains for someone else, and there is no time to be lost."
I looked at the telegram again.
"Yes, I will go," I said. "I can catch the nine train from Liverpool Street without difficulty. This will bring me to Saltmarsh at 11.45. Will you wire to Ogilvie, or shall I do so, Ray?"
"I'll take that trouble off your hands, my dear fellow. I am awfully obliged. Now then, good night, and good luck. Look me up when you return."
Ray rushed back to his ward, and I went to my lodgings to pack my portmanteau and get ready for my sudden journey. I caught the train in comfortable time, and all in due course, without hitch or hindrance of any kind, arrived at Saltmarsh, not more than five minutes after the time mentioned in the time-table.
A servant in livery was standing on the platform. The moment he saw me he came up and touched his hat.
"Are you for Dr. Ogilvie's, sir?" he asked. "Are you the doctor who is expected from London?"
"Yes," I replied.
"My master's brougham is outside," continued the man. "Will you come this way, sir?"
I followed him at once, seated myself in the brougham, which was drawn by a pair of horses, and ten minutes later had alighted from the comfortable carriage and found myself standing in a wide, handsomely furnished and brightly lighted hall. A manservant opened the door to me.
"The doctor from London?" he queried, even before I had time to speak.
"Yes," I answered, "I am Dr. Halifax; have the goodness to take this card to your master."
"Come this way, sir. Oh, good Lord," he muttered under his breath, "ain't this a relief!"
There was a sort of terrified expression about the man's face which I had already perceived faintly reflected on the countenance of the servant who had met me at the station.
"I'll let my master know you've come, sir," he said, and then he noiselessly shut the door and left me to myself. I found myself standing in a room which any London physician would have considered palatial. It was lofty and very large. The floor was almost covered with the softest of Turkey carpets; the walls were hung with good pictures; and the furniture was handsome, modern, and in excellent taste. I went and stood with my back to the glowing fire. I could not quite account for my own sensations, but the words I had heard the servant utter gave me a distinct sense of nervousness. I knew that a doctor ought to know nothing of such feelings, and I was ashamed of myself for owning to them, and made a great effort to pull myself together.
The next moment the door of the room was opened, and a gentlemanly man with silver hair and a soft, long beard entered.
"Mr. Halifax," he said, bowing to me, "I must introduce myself as Dr. Roper. I am an old resident of Saltmarsh, and have known the Ogilvies for many years. Mrs. Ogilvie is seriously ill—seriously!—alarmingly, I ought to add, and I am attending her."
"Is Dr. Ogilvie at home?" I asked.
