"Practically free from danger to my wife?"
"Yes; I think I can say practically free in the case of so good a subject as Mrs. Imason."
Grantley thought for a minute.
"You probably wouldn't object to my having another opinion?" he asked.
Relief was obvious on old Gardiner's face.
"I should welcome it," he said. "The responsibility in such a case is so great that——"
"Tell me the best man, and I'll wire for him at once."
Even on this point Gardiner hesitated, till Grantley named a man known to everybody; him Gardiner at once accepted.
"Very well; and I'll see my wife as soon as you think it desirable." He paused a moment, and then went on: "If I understand the case right, I haven't a moment's hesitation in my mind. But I should like to ask you one question: am I right in supposing that your practice is to prefer the mother's life to the child's?"
"That's the British medical practice, Mr. Imason, where the alternative is as you put it. But there are, of course, degrees of danger, and these would influence——"