"Good-morning, doctor," he said. "I am glad to see you. You see that I am in the grasp of my old enemy."
"We will try to rout him," I said, cheerfully.
"That sounds well, and encourages me. Do you know, Dr. Fenwick, that without any special reason I feel great confidence in you. You are a young man, probably not more than half as old as my regular physician, but he has not been able to do me any good."
"And I hope to be able to do so."
"I suppose you have had experience in such cases?"
"Yes, I have an old aunt who had suffered untold tortures from rheumatism. She put herself under my charge, and for her sake I made an extensive study of rheumatic cases and remedies."
"Well?" he asked, eagerly.
"I finally cured her. It is now three years since she has had a twinge."
"Good! My instinct was correct. That gives me hopes of success under your charge. Don't be afraid to lose your patient by effecting a speedy cure. I will make you a promise. When you have so far cured me that I am free from rheumatic pains for three months, I will hand you a check for a thousand dollars."