I come to ask a favour"--Mr.
Burkham winced, for this sounded like genteel begging, and for genteel
beggars this struggling surgeon had no spare cash--"which it will
scarcely cause you a moment's thought to grant. I am in great
distress"--Mr. Burkham winced again, for this sounded still more like
begging--"mental distress"--Mr. Burkham gave a little sigh of
relief--"and I come to you for advice." Mr. Burkham gave a more profound
sigh of relief.
"I can assure you that my best advice is at your command," he said,
seating himself, and motioning to his visitor to be seated. "I am
beginning to remember your face amongst the members of the club, though
the name on your card did not strike me as familiar. You see, I have
never been able to afford much time for relaxation at the Ragamuffins',
though I assure you I found the agreeable conversation there, the
literary _on dits_, and so on, a very great relief. But my own little
efforts in the dramatic line were not successful, and I found myself
compelled to devote myself more to my profession. And now I have said
quite enough about myself; let me hear how I can be useful to you."
"In the first place, let me ask you a question. Do you know anything of a
certain Dr. Doddleson?"
"Of Plantagenet Square?"
"Yes; of Plantagenet Square."
"Well, not much. I have heard him called Dowager Doddleson; and I believe
he is very popular among hypochondriac old ladies who have more money
than they know what to do with, and very little common sense to regulate
their disposal of it.
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