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for he was but nine…and…thirty at the time of this little incident。 Those
who knew him best were aware that； famous as he was as a surgeon； he
might have succeeded with even greater rapidity in any of a dozen lines of
life。 He could have cut his way to fame as a soldier； struggled to it as an
explorer； bullied for it in the courts； or built it out of stone and iron as an
engineer。 He was born to be great； for he could plan what another man
dare not do； and he could do what another man dare not plan。 In surgery
none could follow him。 His nerve； his judgment； his intuition； were
things apart。 Again and again his knife cut away death； but grazed the
very springs of life in doing it； until his assistants were as white as the
patient。 His energy； his audacity； his full…blooded self…confidencedoes
not the memory of them still linger to the south of Marylebone Road and
the north of Oxford Street？
His vices were as magnificent as his virtues； and infinitely more
picturesque。 Large as was his income； and it was the third largest of all
professional men in London； it was far beneath the luxury of his living。
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Deep in his complex nature lay a rich vein of sensualism； at the sport of
which he placed all the prizes of his life。 The eye； the ear； the touch； the
palateall were his masters。 The bouquet of old vintages； the scent of
rare exotics； the curves and tints of the daintiest potteries of Europeit
was to these that the quick… running stream of gold was transformed。
And then there came his sudden mad passion for Lady Sannox； when a
single interview with two challenging glances and a whispered word set
him ablaze。 She was the loveliest woman in London； and the only one to
him。 He was one of the handsomest men in London； but not the only one
to her。 She had a liking for new experiences； and was gracious to most
men who wooed her。 It may have been cause or it may have been effect
that Lord Sannox looked fifty； though he was but six…and…thirty。
He was a quiet； silent； neutral…tinted man； this lord； with thin lips and
heavy eyelids； much given to gardening； and full of home…like habits。 He
had at one time been fond of acting； had even rented a theatre in London；
and on its boards had first seen Miss Marion Dawson； to whom he had
offered his hand； his title； and the third of a county。 Since his marriage
this early hobby had become distasteful to him。 Even in private
theatricals it was no longer possible to persuade him to exercise the talent
which he had often shown that he possessed。 He was happier with a spud
and a watering…can among his orchids and chrysanthemums。
It was quite an interesting problem whether he was absolutely devoid
of sense； or miserably wanting in spirit。 Did he know his lady's ways and
condone them； or was he a mere blind； doting fool？ It was a point to be
discussed over the teacups in snug little drawing…rooms； or with the aid of
a cigar in the bow windows of clubs。 Bitter and plain were the comments
among men upon his conduct。 There was but one who had a good word
to say for him； and he was the most silent member in the smoking…room。
He had seen him break in a horse at the university； and it seemed to have
left an impression upon his mind。
But when Douglas Stone became the favourite； all doubts as to Lord
Sannox's knowledge or ignorance were set for ever at rest。 There； was no
subterfuge about Stone。 In his high…handed； impetuous fashion； he set all
caution and discretion at defiance。 The scandal became notorious。 A
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learned body intimated that his name had been struck from the list of its
vice…presidents。 Two friends implored him to consider his professional
credit。 He cursed them all three； and spent forty guineas on a bangle to
take with him to the lady。 He was at her house every evening； and she
drove in his carriage in the afternoons。 There was not an attempt on
either side to conceal their relations； but there came at last a little incident
to interrupt them。
It was a dismal winter's night； very cold and gusty； with the wind
whooping in the chimneys and blustering against the window…panes。 A
thin spatter of rain tinkled on the glass with each fresh sough of the gale；
drowning for the instant the dull gurgle and drip from the eves。 Douglas
Stone had finished his dinner； and sat by his fire in the study； a glass of
rich port upon the malachite table at his elbow。 As he raised it to his lips；
he held it up against the lamplight； and watched with the eye of a
connoisseur the tiny scales of beeswing which floated in its rich ruby
depths。 The fire； as it spurted up； threw fitful lights upon his bold； clear…
cut face； with its widely…opened grey eyes； its thick and yet firm lips； and
the deep； square jaw； which had something Roman in its strength and its
animalism。 He smiled from time to time as he nestled back in his
luxurious chair。 Indeed； he had a right to feel well pleased； for； against
the advice of six colleagues； he had performed an operation that day of
which only two cases were on record； and the result had been brilliant
beyond all expectation。 No other man in London would have had the
daring to plan； or the skill to execute； such a heroic measure。
But he had promised Lady Sannox to see her that evening and it was
already half…past eight。 His hand was outstretched to the bell to order the
carriage when he heard the dull thud of the knocker。 An instant later
there was the shuffling of feet in the hall； and the sharp closing of a door。
〃A patient to see you； sir； in the consulting… room； said the butler。
〃About himself？〃
〃No； sir； I think he wants you to go out。〃
〃It is too late； cried Douglas Stone peevishly。 〃I won't go。〃
〃This is his card； sir。〃
The butler presented it upon the gold salver which had been given to
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his master by the wife of a Prime Minister。
〃‘Hamil Ali； Smyrna。' Hum！ The fellow is a Turk； I suppose。〃
〃Yes； sir。 He seems as if he came from abroad； sir。 And he's in a
terrible way。〃
〃Tut； tut！ I have an engagement。 I must go somewhere else。 But
I'll see him。 Show him in here； Pim。〃
A few moments later the butler swung open the door and ushered in a
small and decrepit man； who walked with a bent back and with the
forward push of the face and blink of the eyes which goes with extreme
short sight。 His face was swarthy； and his hair and beard of the deepest
black。 In one hand he held a turban of white muslin striped with red； in
the other a small chamois leather bag。
〃Good…evening；〃 said Douglas Stone； when the butler had closed the
door。 〃You speak English； I presume？〃
〃Yes； sir。 I am from Asia Minor； but I speak English when I speak
slow。〃
〃You wanted me to go out； I understand？〃
〃Yes； sir。 I wanted very much that you should see my wife。〃
〃I could come in the morning； but I have an engagement which
prevents me from seeing your wife to…night。〃
The Turk's answer was a singular one。 He pulled the string which
closed the mouth of the chamois leather bag； and poured a flood of gold
on to the table。
〃There are one hundred pounds there；〃 said he； 〃and I promise you that
it will not take you an hour。 I have a cab ready at the door。〃
Douglas Stone glanced at his watch。 An hour would not make it too
late to visit Lady Sannox。 He had been there later。 And the fee was an
extraordinarily high one。 He had been pressed by his creditors lately； and
he could not afford to let such a chance pass。 He would go。
〃What is the case？〃 he