And as we bring also the news that Jack Leaver has brought down
the hospital roof with applause this morning, you won't mind."
"What did he do?" Charlotte asked, eagerly.
Burns briefly described the case--without describing it at all--after the
manner of the profession when enlightening the laity. He brought out
clearly, however, the fact that Leaver had attacked with great skill and
success several exceedingly difficult problems, and that his fellow
surgeons had been generous enough to concede to him all the honour which
was his due.
"And now--what about your case?" Charlotte asked, realizing suddenly what
the morning's experience was to have been to Burns himself.
"Died on the table," said Burns, with entire coolness. His face had
sobered at the question, but his expression was by no means crestfallen.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Charlotte began, earnestly.
But her husband interrupted her. "No condolences are due, dear. He gave a
dying man the most merciful sort of euthanasia, and at the same time
demonstrated a new method as daring as it was triumphant. With a case
taken a month earlier it would have saved a life. The demonstration is a
contribution to science. If he received no applause it was because we
don't applaud in the presence of death, but there was not a man there
who didn't realize that in certain lines the country surgeon could give
them a long handicap and still win.
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