“Do you think his mind has been affected by Gallipoli?”
“They seem to think so.”
“Do you?”
“I seem to notice a change coming over him. But it’s so very gradual that one can hardly say what it may be.”
“At any rate it is not a good sign for a man like Brandon to be wrapped up in such a fellow as John Smith.”
“There I entirely agree,” said Joliffe. “And to my mind that is the worst feature of the whole affair.”
The two doctors exchanged their views at considerable length. And when the vicar returned from Hart’s Ghyll, after an absence of more than an hour, he found the moral temperature much more equable. In fact the lion and the lamb were lying down together. Moreover, he had only to make known his own proposal that Murfin and Moriarty should be superseded in favor of Birdwood Thompson for this course to be acceptable to both. Dr. Joliffe at once led his visitors to his study, in order that a letter might be drawn up for the purpose of summoning the eminent specialist.
It took some little time for this task to be performed. There were niceties of professional phrasing to consider; also the nature of the case called for a certain amount of discreet description. At last the letter was written, and then Dr. Parker was reminded by the sight of his car, which had come round from the vicarage, that he was urgently due elsewhere.
XXI
Pressed for time, Dr. Parker fled. But he took the letter with him in order that he might post it in Brombridge, and so insure its earlier delivery in London. As soon as Dr. Parker had gone the vicar made a survey of the elements, and then set off at his best pace on a ten-minute walk to his house.