Surgeon at Arms

It seemed such an awful pity that all Alec’s splendid education should go to waste.
    Graham tossed the letter on to the desk in his Marylebone flat. Edith was always a great admirer of education, he reflected. Even as a girl she placed it among the noblest of human qualities, when it was only another pair of hands, to be used for good or evil, but mostly for feeding yourself.
    But he supposed he had better do something about Alec.
    He knew the young man had been discharged from Smithers Bothers, taking some new drug which Dr Dency assured Graham would have a tranquillizing effect, rather than a soporific one like the barbiturates. Graham telephoned the psychiatrist’s consulting room, to learn that Dr Dency had left for a six-months’ lectureship in the Union of South Africa, where he was doubtless enjoying steaks and as many eggs as he cared to eat for his breakfast. He telephoned Smithers Botham but could get no sense from anybody. The next afternoon he was himself delivering a lecture at Addenbrook’s Hospital at Cambridge, and had arranged to dine in hall afterwards with his son. Perhaps Desmond might be able to help, Graham wondered. He had more reason for keeping track of Alec than anyone.
    ‘How did the lecture go?’ asked Desmond, welcoming his father amiably enough with a glass of sherry in his rooms.
    ‘I don’t really know. It was my standard one. I’ve delivered it so often it comes out automatically. It’s a useful opportunity for me to think about other matters.’
    Desmond gave a faint smile. Now that he’s started wearing his hair long, thought Graham, he really does look tremendously like Maria.
    ‘How’s Clare?’ Desmond asked.
    ‘She’s splendid! You didn’t particularly want to attend the wedding, I suppose?’
    ‘I’d have come if you’d asked me.’
    ‘Then perhaps I saved you some embarrassment by omitting to. By the way, you don’t happen to know where Alec’s got to, I suppose? His mother’s worried stiff about him.’
    Desmond looked surprised. ‘I was going to ask you the same thing. I heard some sort of rumour that he was doing anaesthetic locums round London.’
    ‘Then perhaps John Bickley might have a clue,’ Graham suggested hopefully.
    ‘I’m not going to let him get away with it, you know,’ said Desmond more severely. ‘The money’s mine, and he’s showing absolutely no inclination to pay it back whatever. It’s just as if he’d put his hand in my pocket and stolen it.’
    ‘My dear Desmond! ’ Graham leant back in his armchair. ‘One of the things you should now be learning in life is the right moment to cut your losses. With either bad debts, bad women, or bad operating techniques. Enjoy your mistakes, but don’t lose sleep over them.’
    ‘I didn’t want to pay for his bloody upbringing. It was you who took it on.’
    ‘I agree, but anyway the unpleasant experience will do you good.’ Graham sipped the sherry, which was really rather good. It was stupid to worry about grabbing money all the time, he told himself. One of the more depressing of the herd instincts. A wonder he had fallen for the idea so long. Since marrying Clare he was becoming quite righteous.
    ‘If I’m going to start making self-improving donations to charity I certainly wouldn’t begin with Alec,’ Desmond declared crossly.
    ‘You’ve got paranoia about him, haven’t you? That’s a waste of time, too. Old Haileybury and I were daggers drawn for years, and it didn’t get us very far. Only recently I’ve realized that everyone was killing themselves laughing behind our backs. I’d forget Alec, if I were you.’ As Desmond continued looking disagreeable, Graham added, ‘All right, all right, once I’ve got my affairs straight I’ll make the sum up to you. Does that make you feel better? Count your blessings. You’re set for a brilliant academic career, while Alec will never come to anything.’
    Desmond seemed to consider this proposition for some moments, then announced, ‘You know I’ve decided to prepare a new edition of grandfather’s book? There’s a tremendous amount of work involved, but I think it will be worth while.’
    ‘That’s excellent news.’ Graham felt deeply gratified. ‘ “Trevose on the synovial membranes”. I remember the old boy writing it, donkey’s years ago, when I’d escaped with my life from that sanatorium. He’d be pleased to think the family were keeping it going. There’s a weight of medical tradition on your