My cousin made an efficient little speech, and if he did dwell rather on the dear old hospital and his unswerving affection and loyalty towards it, I suppose a chap has to advertise. Then the flash-bulbs went off like Brock's benefit night as Petunia got to her feet. She made an efficient little speech too, though I don't think anyone was paying much attention to what she said. Next it was my cue.
'In the regrettable absence of Lord Nutbeam,' I announced, 'I have great pleasure, as his friend as well as his doctor, in presenting this cheque for ten thousand pounds to start so worthy a fund.'
There was applause. I wondered for a second whether to give them the story of the bishop and the parrot as well, but decided against it.
'This is a very proud moment for me,' declared Sir Lancelot, taking the envelope. 'As many of you know, it is well over forty years since I first came to this hospital as a student. In that not so distant age appendicitis was still a desperate operation, tuberculosis was indeed the scourge of our civilization, and pneumonia as often as not a death warrant. It was also an age when any political gentleman trying to interfere with the affairs of our great hospital would get his fingers burnt very smartly indeed.
'With the passing years, these walls which St Swithin's men grow to venerate so deeply have remained much as for the previous two centuries. But inside them has occurred a revolution in therapy as great as during those exciting times when Lister was introducing asepsis, Pasteur founding the science of bacteriology, and John Snow first alleviating the ordeal of the patient and the frustration of the surgeon with ether anaesthesia. Much, of course, remains to be done. Many of our old hospital buildings, for example, cry for demolition to ease our lives with a little space to park our cars. But surgical research is the cause nearest the heart of many assembled in this Hall today. It is certainly nearest to my own. I am sure we all have in mind the words of the immortal Martial-_'Non est vivere, sed valere vita est'_-as I gratefully accept this gift-this most generous gift-from Lord Nutbeam to relieve our cares in that direction.'
Everybody clapped again.
I must say, I felt pretty pleased with myself, as it hardly seemed yesterday since Sir Lancelot was kicking me out of the theatre for stamping on his left foot instead of the diathermy pedal under the operating table. Particularly as he went on: 'I feel I must express in public my appreciation-the whole hospital's appreciation-of these young men, Dr Gaston Grimsdyke and his cousin Mr Miles Grimsdyke. It is through their agency that we are honoured this afternoon with the presence of such a charming and distinguished lady of the stage as Miss Melody Madder.'
There was further applause, this time more enthusiastic. Indeed; continued Sir Lancelot, tearing open the envelope, 'it is to these gentlemen that we are indebted for the suggestion of Lord Nutbeam's most munificent-'
He went pink all over. I glanced at him anxiously. I wondered if the poor chap was going to have some sort of fit.
'Grimsdyker he hissed. 'What the devil's the meaning of this?'
'Meaning of what, sir?'
'Look at that, you fool!'
Feeling a bit embarrassed, what with everyone watching and the television cameras, I took the cheque.
'Seems all right to me, sir,' I said, shifting rather from foot to foot. 'Payable to you and signed 'Nutbeam.' I hope you are not suggesting it can't be met?' I added, a bit dignified.
'I do not doubt that for one moment, considering that it is made out for one pound four and eightpence.'
'Good Lord, sir, so it is! But-but-dash it! I mean to say there must be some mistake-'
'Get out of this hall this instant! You rogue!
You vagabond! You unspeakable idiot! Never let me look again upon your unbearable-'
'I'm sure there's some explanation-' I was aware that an odd sort of silence had fallen on everybody.
'Get out!' roared Sir Lancelot.
'Oh, yes, sir. Right-ho, sir.'
I left the meeting in some confusion. I think it was the Lord Mayor who had enough presence of mind to jump up and start singing _God Save The Queen._
Twenty minutes later I was throwing open Lord Nutbeam's front door, and bumped into the severe bird in striped trousers I'd last seen emerging from Nutbeam Hall. But I didn't intend to pass the time of day with him and burst into the drawing-room, where I was a bit startled to find Lady Nutbeam next to his Lordship on the sofa wearing her old nurse's uniform.
'Look here!' I began at once. 'If this is another of your stupid jokes-'
'My dear Doctor! What on earth's the matter? You look quite beside yourself.'
'I jolly well am beside myself.' I chucked the cheque at him. 'You've made an absolute booby of myself, Sir Lancelot, and the entire staff of St Swithin's, not to mention all sorts of City nobs. I go along to this jamboree, thinking I'd got the ten thousand quid you'd promised-'
'But my dear Doctor! I feel I never promised any such sum at all.'
'But damn it! You did. I told you ten thousand was wanted to start this blasted fund, and you agreed on the nod. Don't tell me you've simply forgotten. Or perhaps you've just omitted to add the noughts?' I added a bit hopefully.
'I indeed remember perfectly well your mentioning the sum,' Lord Nutbeam continued calmly. 'But I fear I never said I would present Sir Lancelot with it all.'
'But hell! Why on earth one pound four shillings and eightpence?'
'Because, my dear Doctor,' replied Lord Nutbeam simply, 'it is all I have left.'
There was a silence.
'Oh,' I said. 'I see.'
'We wondered why everyone was making such a fuss over the presentation,' added Lady Nutbeam.
'Though I assure you, Doctor, it gives me great pleasure to present my all to such a deserving cause as surgical research.' He took his wife's hand. 'I fear I have been overspending rather of late. But Ethel and I have had a lovely summer, haven't we, my dear?'
'And now I'm going out to get a job and we can start all over again,' said Lady Nutbeam.
'The men will be coming for the cars and the furniture this afternoon. Fortunately, I still have a cottage near Nutbeam Hall, and with my books and my piano no doubt we shall be just as happy. Though I fear, Doctor, I can no longer offer you employment in my household, as much as I should like to.'
There didn't seem anything to say.
'Good-bye, my dear Doctor. And my warmest thanks.'
I put my hand in my pocket.
'I-I don't use this very much,' I said. 'I'd rather like you to have it. It might be able to help you out a little.'
I gave him back his gold cigarette case.
Miles was already in his flat when I arrived.
'Oh, Gaston!' said Connie, opening the door.
He didn't look up as I entered.
'You'd better emigrate,' he remarked quietly.
'Yes, I'd better,' I said.
20
It had been raining heavily all day. It had been raining heavily all the day before. In fact it had been raining heavily as long as I could remember, and I was beginning to get the feeling of living under water.
I looked through the window of the clinic, which was constructed largely of old petrol tins. There was the River Amazon, very muddy and full of crocodiles. Beyond were some trees. Behind were some trees, and all round were more trees. It struck me what a damn silly song it was they used to sing about the beastly things.
I wondered whenever I'd see London again. I'd had a pretty miserable week while Miles fixed me up with the oil company, mooching round saying good-bye to things I'd hardly thought twice about before, such as Nelson's Column and the swans on the Serpentine. I'd already forgotten how long I'd been in Brazil, the only newspapers
