Surgeon at Arms

price will be nominal, particularly if we call it the “Franklin D. Roosevelt Hospital”, something of that nature.’
    ‘That sounds a pleasant windfall,’- said Graham thoughtfully. What would you want me to do? Serve on some committee to raise funds for the equipment?’
    ‘I would want you to head the staff.’
    Graham looked up. He had imagined that Haileybury’s interest in the hospital came at least partly from the glory of running it himself. ‘But what about you?’ Haileybury shrugged his shoulders. ‘You would be the better man.’
    ‘Aren’t you rather carrying modesty to extremes?’ Graham found himself faintly irritated by Haileybury’s honesty. It was something of an affront. ‘You’re the one who’s preached for years that plastic surgery was essentially the surgery of repair. As for rue, I’m a beauty-doctor, a face-faker?’
    ‘And that, if I may say so, is a rather over-modest view of your work during the war.’
    ‘I thought you imagined my work during the war was grabbing publicity?’
    ‘I did imagine it at the time,’ Haileybury told him frankly, ‘but I was wrong. I didn’t understand the importance of the cosmetic work you were doing. I make all the apologies you feel you deserve. It was difficult, confined to administrative tasks. I was too far from individual patients. I came to appreciate only late in the war how much you did for morale.’ He tapped the table with his long forefinger. ‘And that is what we need in this new place of mine. Someone to make plain that those mutilated by the hazards of peace can be treated as effectively as those mutilated by the hazards of war.’
    ‘But Eric! This is an enormous job you’re asking me to take on. There’re all manner of questions for me to decide first.’
    ‘At least the financial question will decide itself. As director, you would draw the appropriate consultant’s salary in the new health service. Plus a merit award» doubtless, if that part of the scheme goes through.’
    ‘But what time have I for such responsibilities? Don’t forget I’ve a busy private practice.’
    ‘I regret that private practice would not enter into it. The post would be full-time. You know how strongly the Government feels on such points.’
    ‘Then I’m afraid it’s out of the question.’
    ‘Do you know, Graham, it’s the second time you have used that expression to me sitting exactly in this spot?’
    Graham smiled. ‘I’m sorry. I much appreciate the honour you’ve paid me, but I must look to my own interests. I’ve landed myself with a hell of a lot of debts, to be paid off somehow before I’m too old to work at all. I’d love to accept, Eric, the idea’s got tremendous attraction, it would be like the annex all over again. But I’m afraid it’s just not on.’
    ‘Last time, I made the mistake of pressing you for a decision. I shall not repeat it. There is plenty of time— months, perhaps a year, perhaps two. Any moment you feel inclined to discuss the matter further, lift a telephone. Will you promise?’
    ‘Very well,’ Graham told him amicably. ‘I’ll keep it constantly before me. Should I undergo a change of heart you’ll hear at once.’
    ‘Excellent. Now let us drop the subject and talk about something else. Very sad, don’t you think, Graham, the prospects for the coming county cricket season?’
    Graham quickly put the offer out of his mind. A salaried post, he decided, would be far more suitable for a man of modest tastes like Haileybury himself. But even Haileybury indulged in a little private practice. He did operations every Saturday morning in a small hospital near the Crystal Palace, which during the war had somehow fallen under the domination of his own in London, King Alfred’s, and afterwards never escaped. It had few private beds, the theatres were antiquated, but the nursing was sound and the general atmosphere Haileybury found agreeably modest. John Bickley was a consultant to the hospital and generally gave Haileybury’s anaesthetics, though regretting that Haileybury didn’t take the same wide view of operating fees as Graham.
    The following Saturday, as Haileybury was finishing the repair of a child’s cleft palate, he observed to John, ‘I saw Trevose the other day.’
    ‘Yes, I ran into him only last week. He seems to be doing as well as ever.’
    ‘He’s full of bounce, certainly. With Trevose that generally indicates a stuffed wallet.’
    ‘Did you think him cheerful? I