His services happened to be specially in request, at the time when I made his acquaintance.

He was called away from his table, on the day after the musical party, when I dined with him.

I was the only guest--and his wife was left to entertain me.
"The good lady began by speaking of Benjulia.

She roundly declared him to be a brute--and she produced my letter of introduction (closed by the doctor's own hand, before he gave it to me) as a proof.

Would you like to read the letter, too?
Here is a copy:--'The man who brings this is an overworked surgeon, named Ovid Vere.