there from day to day without a friend, or, as far as he was aware,
without a companion!

He was there full twenty minutes, walking about the room in exasperated
ill-humour, when at last the door was opened and his brother was
brought in between two men-servants. He was not actually carried, but
was so supported as to appear to be unable to walk. Lord George asked
some questions, but received no immediate answers. The Marquis was at
the moment thinking too much of himself and of the men who were
ministering to him to pay any attention to his brother. Then by degrees
he was fixed in his place, and after what seemed to be interminable
delay the two men went away. "Ugh!" ejaculated the Marquis.

"I am glad to see that you can at any rate leave your room," said Lord
George.

"Then let me tell you that it takes deuced little to make you glad."

The beginning was not auspicious, and further progress in conversation
seemed to be difficult. "They told me yesterday that Dr. Pullbody was
attending you."

"He has this moment left me. I don't in the least believe in him. Your
London doctors are such conceited asses that you can't speak to them?
Because they can make more money than their brethren in other countries
they think that they know everything, and that nobody else knows
anything. It is just the same with the English in every branch of life.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the greatest priest going, because he
has the greatest income, and the Lord Chancellor the greatest lawyer.
All you fellows here are flunkies from top to bottom."

Lord George certainly had not come up to town merely to hear the great
dignitaries of his country abused. But he was comforted somewhat as he
reflected that a dying man would hardly turn his mind to such an
occupation. When a sick man criticises his doctor severely he is seldom
in a very bad way. "Have you had anybody else with you, Brotherton?"

"One is quite enough. But I had another. A fellow named Bolton was
here, a baronet, I believe, who told me I ought to walk a mile in Hyde
Park every day. When I told him I couldn't he said I didn't know till I
tried. I handed him a five-pound note, upon which he hauled out three
pounds nineteen shillings change and walked off in a huff. I didn't
send for him any more."

"Sir James Bolton has a great reputation."

"No doubt. I daresay he could cut off my leg if I asked him, and would
then have handed out two pounds eighteen with the same ind