d other magistrates. Dr. de Boursy-Williams, our
leading practitioner here, has taken the fellow under his wing, in a
manner--bails him out when it is necessary, and, I believe, when the man
is sober enough, gives him work in his dispensary and allows him to
administer the anaesthetic when it's a question of a surgical operation.
Wonder he trusts him, for my part! Yet De Boursy-Williams is a remarkably
successful operator, and hardly ever loses a case. It is unfortunate that
he should have been called away to Cape Town at this juncture."

"He has left Dr. Saxham as _locum tenens_, I understand."

The Mayor shrugged his portly shoulders

"As to his qualifications, there's no doubt. Ranked high at one time as a
London West End specialist. I have seen his name myself in a British
Medical Directory of some years back as principal visiting-surgeon to St.
Stephen's and the Ludgate Hospital for Diseases of the Chest. Has written
books--scientific works that are quoted now. Must have been making money
hand-over-hand when the collapse came. The usual thing--one slip--and a
Police-court Inquiry follows, and down goes the unlucky wretch with the
Crown on top of him, and all the Press pack yelping for soft snaps. True,
the finding of the Jury was 'Not Guilty,' but the fact of there having
been a prosecution was enough to ruin Saxham professionally. Ah, I thought
you must have heard the name!"

For the listener had moved suddenly. He did remember the name of the
distinguished London practitioner who had been discreditably mixed up in
the case of Mrs. Bough, the young, miserable, murdered creature, who might
possibly have been the daughter of Richard Mildare. Tough and cool as his
tried nerves were, he shuddered at the thought, and a sickly heat made the
points of perspiration stand out upon his forehead. But the Mayor, good
man, was prosing on:

"I can't say the facts of the case are very clear in my recollection, but
I have a file of the _Daily Wire_ at home, extending over six years back,
so the Criminal Court proceedings must be reported in it. The woman's
name, I do remember, was Bough. As regards her age, now you ask me"--for
the Colonel had put a quick question--"I fancy she must have been
twenty-two or three. Indeed, I am almost certain that was the age as
stated by the Medical Witness for the Prosecution.... However, I'll go
into the reports and let you know for certain."

"Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And, in case those _Dail