The Great Specialist wrote:—“Special circumstances: A Bastard.”
“May I take down that, that particular aspect of the case?”
“Yes, certainly,” said the patient, almost cheerfully.
“Then I take it,” continued the scientist slowly, “if you do not even know your father’s name, it is no good my asking the date of his death, nor the cause of it? Nor, I suppose, whether he had any nervous trouble, to your knowledge?”
“Not the least use,” said Mr. Petre with increasing firmness.
“In fact, you have no idea of your ancestry—your hereditary history—upon that side?”
“None,” said Mr. Petre.
The Great Specialist coughed gently but firmly to himself, sighed, took up the pen again, and began again with the same upward inquisitive look.