He glanced towards me suspiciously.
"I was told," he said, "that my patient was without friends here, or any one for whom he could send."
"I have only known him a very short time," I answered, "but I am interested in him. If I may be allowed to say so, I am perfectly willing to defray any charges—"
He stopped me impatiently.
"I am physician to the hotel," he said, "Mr. Blumentein arranges all that with me!"
"Then perhaps as I have told you I am interested in him, I can trespass so far upon your courtesy as to inquire into the nature of his ailment," I said.
"I am afraid," he said, "that as you are not a medical man, I could scarcely make you understand."
"There was—an accident, I think," I began.
"A trifle! Nothing at all," the doctor declared hastily. "The trouble is with his heart. You will excuse me! I have many calls to make this evening."
"Perhaps you would kindly give me your address," I said. "Dr. Mumford, the heart specialist, is an acquaintance of mine. You would not object to meet him in consultation?"