"With the greatest pleasure," said George. "I was mentioning to you, Herr Doctor, that your great fame and renown had brought me from England for the purpose of consulting you on one of those cases which you have made your special study, and one in which I am particularly interested."
"Zo!" said the Doctor, emitting a long puff of smoke, "aber ist es ihnen nicht bekannt--I mean, is it not know to you dass I ze praxis have gave up? Dass I vill no more the curatives inspect, but vill me zum studiren leave?"
"I have heard so, Herr Doctor; but I thought that perhaps under peculiar circumstances you might make an exception."
"Und die peguliar circonstances is----?"
"I thought perhaps that when I told you of the case, a young girl"
"Ah, bah!" interrupted the old gentleman, with a short and angry puff. "It is nothing vorths; dass young kirls und dummerei! Dass geht mit mir nicht mehr. I am one old man now and" then turning suddenly, "she is your Schwester, vat?"
"No; at present she is nothing to me, though if she were well, I should hope to make her my wife."
"Your vaife! Ah, ha! you are verlobt, vat you call engachement, vat? And she is----?" touching his forehead. "Ach, du lieber Gott! dass ist aber schwer. Und so fine a young man! How do you call? Vat is your name, eh?"
"You have heard it before, I think," said George. "My name is Wainwright."
"Vainwraet!" screamed the old gentleman; "was von Vainwraet dass der Tarkened Maind, der Seclusion, is it koot or bat? der Non Restraint in Lunacie, und so weiter? der Doctor Vainwraet, are you mit ihm verwandt, are you of him relatived?"