"My leg?"
"I said your leg. At present it's a question of that only. It may be necessary to proceed further later on."
"What do you mean?"
Bruce Palliser was conscious that his right leg was subjecting him to so much agony that beads of sweat stood on his brow.
"Compound fracture. Tibia and peroneal both broken. Mr Harford is of opinion that the only thing is to amputate at once."
"Is he? I'm much obliged."
"I say no."
"Do you?"
"I do. I say they can be set, being of opinion that it's worth while risking something on the off chance of being able to save your leg, since it's better to go about with two than one."
Mr Harford shook his head.