I'm sorry to get you out of bed so early, Doctor he began. "But I had a very serious accident during the night. I came back to London by train this morning, and at Paddington I asked the Red could find a doctor. One good man very in the railway people where I but I see that practice me here. I gave your servant a card, as kindly brought at h she has left it over there on the side table. mes I picked it up and looked at it. "Mr Victor Hatherley, I read. persuade eadily"Engineer, third floor, 16A Victoria Street. I am sorry you have had to wait so long, I said, sitting down. ive e near must have been dull too railway Your night journey"Oh, my experiences during the night could not be called red of dull!' he said, and laughed. In fact he shook with such unnatural persuade laughter that he sounded a little crazy. "Stop it!' I cried. "Control yourself!' I poured out a glass of pken by water for him. hat two But it was useless. He went on laughing for some time. When at last he stopped he was very tired and ashamed of himself. g in my It was stupid of me to laugh like that, he said in a weak voice. w from Not at all. I poured some brandy into the water. Drink this!' e I had Soon the colour began to return to his pale face. "That's closed better!" he said. And now, doctor, would you mind looking at my oulder thumb, or rather at the place where my thumb used to b mal for He took off the cloth and held out his hand. It was a terrible o that sight, and although I had been an army doctor I could hardly bear duties to look at it. Instead of a thumb there was only an uneven could swollen red surface. The thumb had been completely cut or torn off. Good heavens!' I cried. This is a terrible wound. It must have table bled a great deal. h he