"
"I am very glad that you have come to me," answered Dr. Westbrook,
gravely.
"Indeed! do you, then, consider the symptoms alarming?"
"Well, no, not at present; but I may go so far as to say that you have
done very wisely in placing yourself under medical treatment. It is a
most interesting case," added the doctor with an air of satisfaction
that was almost enjoyment.
He then asked his patient a great many questions, some of which Douglas
Dale considered frivolous, or, indeed, absurd; questions about his
diet, his habits: questions even about the people with whom he
associated, the servants who waited upon him.
These latter inquiries might have seemed almost impertinent, if Dr.
Westbrook's elevated position had not precluded such an idea.
"You dine at your club, or in your chambers, eh, Mr. Dale?" he asked.
"Neither at my club, nor my chambers; I dine every day with a friend."
"Indeed; always with the same friend?"
"Always the same."
"And you breakfast?"
"At my chambers."
Here followed several questions as to the nature of the breakfast.
"These sort of ailments depend so much on diet," said the physician, as
if to justify the closeness of his questioning. "Your servant prepares
your breakfast, of course--is he a person whom you can trust?"
"Yes; he is an old servant of my father's. I could trust him implicitly
in far more important matters than the preparation of my breakfast.
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