The Case of Lady Sannox

           TherelationsbetweenDouglasStoneandthenotoriousLadySannoxwereverywellknownbothamongthefashionablecirclesofwhichshewasabrilliantmember,andthescientificbodieswhichnumberedhimamongtheirmostillustriousconfreres.Therewasnaturally,therefore,averywidespreadinterestwhenitwasannouncedonemorningthattheladyhadabsolutelyandforevertakentheveil,andthattheworldwouldseehernomore.When,attheverytailofthisrumour,therecametheassurancethatthecelebratedoperatingsurgeon,themanofsteelnerves,hadbeenfoundinthemorningbyhisvalet,seatedononesideofhisbed,smilingpleasantlyupontheuniverse,withbothlegsjammedintoonesideofhisbreechesandhisgreatbrainaboutasvaluableasacapfullofporridge,thematterwasstrongenoughtogivequitealittlethrillofinteresttofolkwhohadneverhopedthattheirjadednerveswerecapableofsuchasensation.

           DouglasStoneinhisprimewasoneofthemostremarkablemeninEngland.Indeed,hecouldhardlybesaidtohaveeverreachedhisprime,forhewasbutnine-and-thirtyatthetimeofthislittleincident.Thosewhoknewhimbestwereawarethatfamousashewasasasurgeon,hemighthavesucceededwithevengreaterrapidityinanyofadozenlinesoflife.Hecouldhavecuthiswaytofameasasoldier,struggledtoitasanexplorer,bulliedforitinthecourts,orbuiltitoutofstoneandironasanengineer.Hewasborntobegreat,forhecouldplanwhatanothermandarenotdo,andhecoulddowhatanothermandarenotplan.Insurgerynonecouldfollowhim.