“Fifty-six.”

“A bit early for senile dementia to develop, is it not, Doctor?”

“Yes,” the physician snapped.

“Then try and retain your good temper, Doctor, and I will try and be as fair as possible. You stated there were other symptoms. The only other symptom which you noted, I believe, was an arcus senilis.”

“Well, that was sufficient.”

“An arcus senilis, in your opinion, denotes a mental deterioration?”

“It is a symptom, yes.”

“And just what is an arcus senilis, not in technical terms, but describe it.”

“It appears as a crescent-shaped ring in the outer periphery of the cornea.”

Mason suddenly raised his head. “Similar to the white crescent shape in the eye of His Honor, Judge Treadwell?” he asked.