CHAPTER V.
THE EPISODE OF THE NEEDLE THAT DID NOT MATCH "Sebastian is a great man," I said to Hilda Wade, as I sat one afternoon over a cup of tea she had brewed for me in her own little sitting-room.
It is one of the alleviations of an hospital doctor's lot that he may drink tea now and again with the Sister of his ward.

"Whatever else you choose to think of him, you must admit he is a very great man." I admired our famous Professor, and I admired Hilda Wade: 'twas a matter of regret to me that my two admirations did not seem in return sufficiently to admire one another.

"Oh, yes," Hilda answered, pouring out my second cup; "he is a very great man.

I never denied that.

The greatest man, on the whole, I think, that I have ever come across." "And he has done splendid work for humanity," I went on, growing enthusiastic.
"Splendid work! Yes, splendid! (Two lumps, I believe ?) He has done more, I admit, for medical science than any other man I ever met." I gazed at her with a curious glance.