"So you've got the billet," said Dr. Theobald. "Well, as I told
you before, and as you have since probably discovered for
yourself, you won't find it exactly a sinecure. My own part of
the business is by no means that; indeed, there are those who
would throw up the case, after the kind of treatment that you
have seen for yourself. But professional considerations are not
the only ones, and one cannot make too many allowances in such a
case."

"But what is the case?" I asked him. "You said you would tell
me if I was successful."

Dr. Theobald's shrug was worthy of the profession he seemed
destined to adorn; it was not incompatible with any construction
which one chose to put upon it. Next moment he had stiffened.
I suppose I still spoke more or less like a gentleman. Yet,
after all, I was only the male nurse. He seemed to remember
this suddenly, and he took occasion to remind me of the fact.

"Ah," said he, "that was before I knew you were altogether
without experience; and I must say that I was surprised even at
Mr. Maturin's engaging you after that; but it will depend upon
yourself how long I allow him to persist in so curious an
experiment. As for what is the matter with him, my good fellow,
it is no use my giving you an answer which would be double Dutch
to you; moreover, I have still to test your discretionary
powers. I may say, however, that that poor gentleman presents
at once the most complex and most troublesome case, which is
responsibility enough without certain features which make it all