So carried away was he by his thoughts that the strangeness of the sudden question did not occur to him at the moment.
The other showed no sign of surprise. "Yes." He moved quickly nearer.
"D'you feel seedy?" His voice was soothing.
"Good Lord, no!" McTaggart laughed, slightly ashamed, collecting his wits. "You must forgive me—the fact is I've just read some astounding news that bowled me over—in this paper—perhaps you've seen it?"——
He handed the Globe across, a finger that trembled slightly marking the famous paragraph.
"About the specialist? Yes—that's it," as the doctor gave it his attention. "It's an odd thing—I consulted the man a few years since about my heart. I'm wondering now if his verdict was wrong?"
The doctor's face went graver still. He guessed that the young man before him had suffered the dread of all heart patients and now this further anxiety had been added, with a sense of shock.
"They say there," went on McTaggart, "that his brain has been failing for some years—that he made mistakes—you see the line—'strange and eccentric diagnoses'—I wonder ... do you mind if I tell you?"
He hesitated, but the other answered: "Please do"—realizing that the strain might be lessened by a confidence.
"He said I had a double heart." McTaggart laughed nervously, as he saw the doctor's incredulous face, that went quickly blank again. "He said my circulation was good—that it didn't affect my health in the least. But there it was—a double heart—a separate organ on either side! It sounds mad—I'll admit that. But I never dreamed he could be mistaken—a man with a reputation like his!"