things; will you please to scrape the lint? It should be fine and
soft, you know, my dear sir; and be cautious that no cotton gets in,
or it may p’izen the wound. The shirt has been made with cotton
thread, but you can easily pick it out.”

Richard assumed the office, with a nod at his cousin, that said quite
plainly, “You see this fellow can’t get along without me;” and began
to scrape the linen on his knee with great diligence.

A table was now spread with phials, boxes of salve, and divers
surgical instruments. As the latter appeared in succession, from a
case of red morocco, their owner held up each implement to the strong
light of the chandelier, near to which he stood, and examined it with
the nicest care. A red silk handkerchief was frequently applied to
the glittering steel, as if to remove from the polished surfaces the
least impediment which might exist to the most delicate operation.
After the rather scantily furnished pocket-case which contained these
instruments was exhausted, the physician turned to his saddle-bags,
and produced various phials, filled with liquids of the most radiant
colors. These were arranged in due order by the side of the murderous
saws, knives, and scissors, when Elnathan stretched his long body to
its utmost elevation, placing his hand on the small of his back as if
for sup port, and looked about him to discover what effect this
display of professional skill was likely to produce on the spectators.

“Upon my wort, toctor,” observed Major Hartmann, with a roguish roll
of his little black eyes, but with every other feature of his face in
a state of perfect rest, “put you have a very pretty pocket-book of
tools tere, and your toctor-stuff glitters as if it was petter for ter
eyes as for ter pelly.”