ures, and not being a shareholder, am delicate of
showing any curiosity whatever on the subject. Delicacy--your
amiable lady will agree with me I am sure--should be one of the first
characteristics of a medical man.' ('Nothing can be finer or more
gentlemanly than Jobling's feeling,' thinks the patient.) 'Very good,
my dear sir, so the matter stands. You don't know Mr Montague? I'm sorry
for it. A remarkably handsome man, and quite the gentleman in every
respect. Property, I am told, in India. House and everything belonging
to him, beautiful. Costly furniture on the most elegant and lavish
scale. And pictures, which, even in an anatomical point of view, are
perfection. In case you should ever think of doing anything with the
company, I'll pass you, you may depend upon it. I can conscientiously
report you a healthy subject. If I understand any man's constitution, it
is yours; and this little indisposition has done him more good,
ma'am,' says the doctor, turning to the patient's wife, 'than if he had
swallowed the contents of half the nonsensical bottles in my surgery.
For they ARE nonsense--to tell the honest truth, one half of them are
nonsense--compared with such a constitution as his!' ('Jobling is the
most friendly creature I ever met with in my life,' thinks the patient;
'and upon my word and honour, I'll consider of it!')

'Commission to you, doctor, on four new policies, and a loan this
morning, eh?' said Crimple, looking, when they had finished lunch, over
some papers brought in by the porter. 'Well done!'

'Jobling, my dear friend,' said Tigg, 'long life to you.'

'No, no. Nonsense. Upon my word I've no right to draw the commission,'
said the doctor, 'I haven't really. It's picking your pocket. I don't
recommend anybody here. I only say what I know. My patients ask me what
I know, and I tell 'em what I know. Nothing else. Caution is my weak
side, that's the truth; and always was from a boy. That is,' said the
doctor, filling his glass, 'caution in behalf of other people. Whether I
would repose confidence in this company myself, if I had not been paying
money elsewhere for many years--that's quite another question.'

He tried to look as if there were no doubt about it; but feeling that he
did it but indifferently, changed the theme and praised the wine.

'Talking of wine,' said the doctor, 'reminds me of one of the finest
glasses of light old port I ever drank in my life; and that was at a
funeral. You have n