The Meeting

           "Mybelovedchild,"heresumed,"wasnowgrowingrapidlyworse.Thephysicianwhoattendedherhadfailedtoproducetheslightestimpressiononherdisease,forsuchIthensupposedittobe.Hesawmyalarm,andsuggestedaconsultation.Icalledinanablerphysician,fromGratz.

           "Severaldayselapsedbeforehearrived.Hewasagoodandpious,aswellasaleanedman.Havingseenmypoorwardtogether,theywithdrewtomylibrarytoconferanddiscuss.I,fromtheadjoiningroom,whereIawaitedtheirsummons,heardthesetwogentlemen’svoicesraisedinsomethingsharperthanastrictlyphilosophicaldiscussion.Iknockedatthedoorandentered.IfoundtheoldphysicianfromGratzmaintaininghistheory.Hisrivalwascombatingitwithundisguisedridicule,accompaniedwithburstsoflaughter.Thisunseemlymanifestationsubsidedandthealtercationendedonmyentrance.

           "‘Sir,’saidmyfirstphysician,‘mylearnedbrotherseemstothinkthatyouwantaconjuror,andnotadoctor.’

           "‘Pardonme,’saidtheoldphysicianfromGratz,lookingdispleased,‘Ishallstatemyownviewofthecaseinmyownwayanothertime.Igrieve,MonsieurleGeneral,thatbymyskillandscienceIcanbeofnouse.BeforeIgoIshalldomyselfthehonortosuggestsomethingtoyou.’

           "Heseemedthoughtful,andsatdownatatableandbegantowrite.

           "Profoundlydisappointed,Imademybow,andasIturnedtogo,theotherdoctorpointedoverhisshouldertohiscompanionwhowaswriting,andthen,withashrug,significantlytouchedhisforehead.