Philip Curtiss

“ MacVickar and I were unfortunately unable to use.
I have taken the liberty of giving the tickets to my friend Mr. Arnold Bellsmith and have taken the farther liberty of asking him to introduce himself and do what he can to lighten the tedium of your stay in Leicester.
At first acquaintance you may think Mr. Bellsmith the biggest fool ever born, but please take my assurance that actually he is the salt of the earth, and, on further acquaintance, although you may still find him ridiculous, you may also find him, as I do, extremely amusing.
Cordially yours,⁠
James MacVickar. ”

“ Bellsmith," remarked the doctor, "a man as astute as you are ought to be ashamed of himself for getting into the state that you are in now. I own up. It does n't make any difference, because you would have found out anyway. The point is, will you take those seats this evening—or one of them—and use it?"
"Very gladly, " said Bellsmith.
The doctor sat looking thoughtfully at his desk-blotter, then spoke slowly, a faint smile twitching at the corners of his close-cropped mustache.
"That young lady whom you saw here this afternoon is Miss Tilly Marshall. She is a—a sort of connection of mine. ”

“ The doctor laughed and put down his pen. "I think you will like to—take this. Are you going to be busy this evening?"
"No more busy than I ever am."
"Opening and closing doors and holding your hand over the window-pane?" suggested the doctor. "In that case I think you 're my man."
He wrote a few words on his pad and prepared to tear off the top sheet.
"A friend of mine," he explained, "has telephoned offering me a couple of seats at the theater—"
He said it casually but his casualness was just too well done, for, as he said the word "theater" a sudden light flashed over Bellsmith. ”

“ Not at all because it was the best thing to do under the circumstances but merely because he could think of nothing else, he said, "Good night," and fled.
As soon as he had gone the office nurse came silently into the room. She found Dr. ”