' He pointed to his card, which Dr Richardson still held.
'And my friend is Dr Porhoet, whose name will be familiar to you with
respect to his studies in Malta Fever.'
'I think I read an article of yours in the _B.M.J._' said the country
doctor.
His manner assumed a singular hostility. He had no sympathy with London
specialists, whose attitude towards the general practitioner he resented.
He was pleased to sneer at their pretensions to omniscience, and quite
willing to pit himself against them.
'What can I do for you, Mr Burdon?'
'I should be very much obliged if you would tell me as exactly as
possible how Mrs Haddo died.'
'It was a very simple case of endocarditis.'
'May I ask how long before death you were called in?'
The doctor hesitated. He reddened a little.
'I'm not inclined to be cross-examined,' he burst out, suddenly making up
his mind to be angry. 'As a surgeon I daresay your knowledge of cardiac
diseases is neither extensive nor peculiar. But this was a very simple
case, and everything was done that was possible.
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