Blind Love

This gentleman led the way to the official department of the hospital,

and introduced the two foreigners to the French authorities assembled

for the transaction of business.

As a medical man, Mr. Vimpany's claims to general respect and

confidence were carefully presented. He was a member of the English

College of Surgeons; he was the friend, as well as the colleague of the

famous President of that College, who had introduced him to the chief

surgeon of the Hotel Dieu. Other introductions to illustrious medical

persons in Paris had naturally followed. Presented under these

advantages, Mr. Vimpany announced his discovery of a new system of

treatment in diseases of the lungs. Having received his medical

education in Paris, he felt bound in gratitude to place himself under

the protection of "the princes of science," resident in the brilliant

capital of France. In that hospital, after much fruitless investigation

in similar institutions, he had found a patient suffering from the form

of lung disease, which offered to him the opportunity that he wanted.

It was impossible that he could do justice to his new system, unless

the circumstances were especially favourable. Air more pure than the

air of a great city, and bed-room accommodation not shared by other

sick persons, were among the conditions absolutely necessary to the

success of the experiment. These, and other advantages, were freely

offered to him by his noble friend, who would enter into any

explanations which the authorities then present might think it

necessary to demand.

The explanations having been offered and approved, there was a general

move to the bed occupied by the invalid who was an object of

professional interest to the English doctor.

The patient's name was Oxbye. He was a native of Denmark, and had

followed in his own country the vocation of a schoolmaster. His

knowledge of the English language and the French had offered him the

opportunity of migrating to Paris, where he had obtained employment as

translator and copyist. Earning his bread, poorly enough in this way,

he had been prostrated by the malady which had obliged him to take

refuge in the hospital. The French physician, under whose medical care

he had been placed, having announced that he had communicated his notes

enclosed in a letter to his English colleague, and having frankly

acknowledged that the result of the treatment had not as yet

sufficiently justified expectation, the officers of the institution

spoke next. The Dane was informed of the nature of Mr. Vimpany's

interest in him, and of the hospitable assistance offered by Mr.

Vimpany's benevolent friend; and the question was then put, whether he

preferred to remain where he was, or whether he desired to be removed

under the conditions which had just been stated?