It was with great reluctance that I added to Lady Montbarry's distress;
but I felt bound, when she suggested a consultation with
another physician, to own that I too thought there was really need
for it.
'"Her ladyship instructed me to spare no expense, and to get the best
medical opinion in Italy. The best opinion was happily within our reach.
The first and foremost of Italian physicians is Torello of Padua.
I sent a special messenger for the great man. He arrived on the evening
of the 21st, and confirmed my opinion that pneumonia had set in,
and that our patient's life was in danger. I told him what my treatment
of the case had been, and he approved of it in every particular.
He made some valuable suggestions, and (at Lady Montbarry's
express request) he consented to defer his return to Padua until
the following morning.
'"We both saw the patient at intervals in the course of the night.
The disease, steadily advancing, set our utmost resistance at defiance.
In the morning Doctor Torello took his leave. 'I can be of no
further use,' he said to me. 'The man is past all help--and he ought
to know it.
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