His mind has never recovered
from the shock, and he has been ever since in a chronic
state of moody sullenness which breaks out every now and
then into violent mania. His father will not allow him
to be removed from Lochtully Castle, and it is his desire
that a medical man should stay there in constant
attendance upon his son. Your physical strength would of
course be very useful in restraining those violent
attacks of which I have spoken. The remuneration will be
twelve pounds a month, and you would be required to take
over your duties to-morrow."
I walked home, my dear Bertie, with a bounding heart,
and the pavement like cotton wool under my feet. I found
just eightpence in my pocket, and I spent the whole of it
on a really good cigar with which to celebrate the
occasion. Old Cullingworth has always had a very high
opinion of lunatics for beginners. "Get a lunatic,
my boy! Get a lunatic!" he used to say. Then it was not
only the situation, but the fine connection that it
opened up. I seemed to see exactly what would happen.
There would be illness in the family,--Lord Saltire
himself perhaps, or his wife. There would be no time to
send for advice. I would be consulted. I would gain
their confidence and become their family attendant. They
would recommend me to their wealthy friends. It was all
as clear as possible. I was debating before I reached
home whether it would be worth my while to give up a
lucrative country practice in order to take the
Professorship which might be offered me.
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