"I have excited myself too much--feel rather faint." Staines saw no signs of coming syncope; he rang the bell quietly, and ordered a decanter of sherry to be brought; the first patient filled himself a glass; then another; and went off, revived, to chatter elsewhere.

But at the door he said, "I had always a running account with Dr.Mivar.I suppose you don't object to that system.

Double fee the first visit, single afterwards." Dr.Staines bowed a little stiffly; he would have preferred the money.
However, he looked at the Blue Book, and found his visitor lived at 47 Manchester Square; so that removed his anxiety.
The first patient called every other day, chattered nineteen to the dozen, was exhausted, drank two glasses of sherry, and drove away.
Soon after this a second patient called.

This one was a deputy patient--Collett, a retired butler--kept a lodging-house, and waited at parties; he lived close by, but had a married daughter in Chelsea.

Would the doctor visit her, and HE would be responsible?
Staines paid the woman a visit or two, and treated her so effectually, that soon her visits were paid to him.