Arthur  Clennam  turned ;  and  walking  beside  the  litter,  and  saying
an  encouraging  word  now  and  then,  accompanied  it  to  the  neighbouring
hospital  of  Saint  Bartholomew.  None  of  the  crowd  but  the  bearers  and
he  being  admitted,  the  disabled  man  was  soon  laid  on  a  table  in  a  cool,
methodical  way,  and  carefully  examined  by  a  surgeon :  who  was  as  near
at  hand,  and  as  ready  to  appear,  as  Calamity  herself.  "He  hardly  knows
an  English  word,"  said  Clennam ;  "  is  he  badly  hurt  ?"  "Let  us  know
all  about  it  first,"  said  the  surgeon,  continuing  his  examination  with  a
business-like  delight  in  it,  "  before  we  pronounce."

After  trying  the  leg  with  a  finger  and  two  fingers,  and  one  hand  and
two  hands,  and  over  and  under,  and  up  and  down,  and  in  this  direction
and  in  that,  and  approvingly  remarking  on  the  points  of  interest  to
another  gentleman  who  joined  him,  the  surgeon  at  last  clapped  the
patient  on  the  shoulder,  and  said,  "  He  won't  hurt.  He'll  do  very  well.
It's  difficult  enough,  but  we  shall  not  want  him  to  part  with  his  leg  this
time."  "Which  Clennam  interpreted  to  the  patient,  who  was  full  of
gratitude,  and,  in  his  demonstrative  way,  kissed  both  the  interpreter's
hand  and  the  surgeon's,  several  times.
"It's  a  serious  injury,  I  suppose  ?"  said  Clennam.
"Ye-es,"  replied  the  surgeon,  with  the  thoughtful  pleasure  of  an
artist,  contemplating  the  work  upon  his  easel.  "Yes,  it's  enough.
There's  a  compound  fracture  above  the  knee,  and  a  dislocation  below.
