The prosecution and the verdict of the jury, amounting as it did to one of "not proven" only, had ruined me.

By now my small resources were almost exhausted, and I could see that very shortly the time would come when I should no longer know where to turn for bread for myself and my child.
One morning as I was sitting in my consulting-room, moodily reading a medical textbook for want of something else to do, the front door bell rang.

"A patient at last," I thought to myself with a glow of hope.
I was soon undeceived, however, for the servant opened the door and announced Mr.Stephen Strong.
"How do you do, doctor ?" he said briskly.

"You will wonder why I am here at such an hour.

Well, it is on business.