"
The doctor frowned on me as he picked up his hat.
"I have given no permission," he said, "for my patient to receive
visitors."
"I trust that you don't consider him too ill," I answered. "I was hoping
to hear that he was better!"
"He is doing well enough," the doctor declared, "if he is left alone.
But," he added, in a lower tone, "he is a sick man--a very sick man."
I glanced towards the bedside, and was shocked at the deathly pallor of
his face. His eyes were half closed. He had not the air of hearing
anything that we said. I walked towards the door with the doctor.
"What is the matter with him, doctor?" I asked.
He glanced towards me suspiciously.
"I was told," he said, "that my patient was without friends here, or any
one for whom he could send."
"I have only known him a very short time," I answered, "but I am
interested in him. If I may be allowed to say so, I am perfectly willing
to defray any charges--"
He stopped me impatiently.
"I am physician to the hotel," he said, "Mr. Blumentein arranges all that
with me!"
"Then perhaps as I have told you I am interested in him, I can trespass
so far upon your courtesy as to inquire into the nature of his ailment,"
I said.
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