he next, there were two crushed, bleeding bodies at my feet. I had a
broken arm, that was all. Well, they were killed on the instant; they
didn't suffer. That has been my one consolation.'

Yule kept the silence of sympathy.

'I was in a lunatic asylum for more than a year after that,' continued
the man. 'Unhappily, I didn't lose my senses at the moment; it took two
or three weeks to bring me to that pass. But I recovered, and there has
been no return of the disease. Don't suppose that I am still of unsound
mind. There can be little doubt that poverty will bring me to that again
in the end; but as yet I am perfectly sane. I have supported myself in
various ways.

No, I don't drink; I see the question in your face. But I am physically
weak, and, to quote Mrs Gummidge, "things go contrary with me." There's
no use lamenting; this breakfast has helped me on, and I feel in much
better spirits.'

'Your surgical knowledge is no use to you?'

The other shook his head and sighed.

'Did you ever give any special attention to diseases of the eyes?'

'Special, no. But of course I had some acquaintance with the subject.'

'Could you tell by examination whether a man was threatened with
cataract, or anything of that kind?'

'I think I could.'

'I am speaking of myself.'

The stranger made a close scrutiny of Yule's face, and asked certain
questions with reference to his visual sensations.

'I hardly like to propose it,' he said at length, 'but if you were
willing to accompany me to a very poor room that I have not far from
here, I could make the examination formally.'

'I will go with you.'

They turned away from the stall, and the ex-surgeon led into a
by-street. Yule wondered at himself for caring to seek such a singular
consultation, but he had a pressing desire to hear some opinion as to
the state of his eyes. Whatever the stranger might tell him, he would
afterwards have recourse to a man of recognised standing; but just now
companionship of any kind was welcome, and the poor hungry fellow, with
his dolorous life-story, had made appeal to his sympathies. To give
money under guise of a fee would be better than merely offering alms.

'This is the house,' said his guide, pausing at a dirty door. 'It isn't
inviting, but the people are honest, so far as I know. My room is at the
top.'

'Lead on,' answered Yule.

In the room they entered was nothing noticeable; it was only the poorest
possible kind of bed-chamber