“Yes, for appendicitis. He only used the S in neck operations. And so when Meyerovitch used it on Ina Holden, it was the first time on record for appendicitis, and probably the last.”
“Most likely. And how did the case get along?”
“Better than any of us expected. It was a drainage case, of course, and took some time to dry up. But the wound finally healed perfectly, with no suggestion of weakness, and left a large scar like a reversed S.”
“Meyerovitch’s bull luck.”
“Yes. I saw the child every day for more than a month and got much attached to her. She wouldn’t let anyone else dress the wound, and after she went home, the family often invited me to the house.”
“They’re very rich, aren’t they?”
“They are, now, but they weren’t then. Mr. Holden owned some manganese land in California, and when the Western Pacific laid its tracks over a corner of his property, he was a rich man.”
The colleagues silently finished their illegal glasses. Then Edwards looked at his watch and rose from his chair.
“Good night, Herbert, and many thanks for the drink.”
Carlson, alone, looked at a memorandum that his sister had left on his desk.