I could not resist it. I forget what I said; but I know the sense of it
was, that I thought the poor fellow's leg could and ought to be saved.--I
remember Dr. Frumpton glared upon me instantly with eyes of fury, and asked
how I dared to interfere in a surgical case; and to contradict his friend,
Mr. Bland, a surgeon!

"They prepared for the operation--the surgeon whipped on his mittens--the
poor man, who was almost fainting with loss of blood, cast another piteous
look at me, and said, in an Irish accent, 'Long life to you, dear!--and
don't let'm--for what will I be without a leg? And my wife and children!'

"He fell back in a swoon, and I sprung between the surgeon and him;
insisting that, as he had appealed to me, he should be left to me; and
declared that I would have him carried to St. George's Hospital, where I
knew he would be taken care of properly.

"Frumpton stamped, and scarcely articulate with rage, bade me--'stir the
man at your peril!' adding expressions injurious to the hospital, with the
governors of which he had some quarrel. I made a sign to the workmen who
had brought in the wounded man; they lifted him instantly, and carried him
out before me; and one of them, being his countryman, followed, crying
aloud, '_Success_ to your honour! and may you _never_ want a _friend_!'

"Frumpton seized him by both shoulders, and pushing him out of the house,
exclaimed, 'Success, by G----, he shall never have, if I can help it! He
has lost a friend such as he can never get again--By G--, I'll make him
repent this!'

"Unmoved by these denunciations, I pursued my way to the hospital. You know
in what an admirable manner the London hospitals are conducted.--At St.