for there is nothing better when you are
sinking."

As far as I could judge, the bulk of the
patients looked upon a morning at Culling-
worth's as a most enthralling public entertain-
ment, tempered only by a thrill lest it should
be their turn next to be made an exhibition
of

Well, with half an hour for lunch, this
extraordinary business went on till a quarter
to four in the afternoon. When the last
patient had departed, CuUingworth led the
way into the dispensary, where all the fees
had been arranged upon the counter in the
order of their value. There were seventeen
half-sovereigns, seventy-three shillings, and
forty-six florins ; or thirty-two pounds eight
and sixpence in all. CuUingworth counted it
up, and then mixing the gold and silver into
one heap, he sat running his fingers through it
and playing with it. Finally, he raked it into
the canvas bag which I had seen the night
before, and lashed the neck up with a boot-
lace.
We walked home, and that walk struck me
as the most extraordinary part of all that
extraordinary day. CuUingworth paraded
slowly through the principal streets with his
canvas bag, full of money, outstretched at the



THE STARK MUNRO LETTERS. 143

full length of his arm. His wife and I walked
on either side, like two acolytes supporting a
priest, and so we made our way solemnly
homewards, the people stopping to see us
pass.
" I always make a point of walking through
the doctors' quarter," said CuUingworth. " We
are passing through it now. They all come to
their windows and gnash their teeth and dance
until I am out of sight."

" Why should you quarrel with them ? What
is the matter with them VI asked.
