by Неизвестный
Takes during January have been from medicine (including the insurance guinea).
First week. 21/6
Second. 10/2
Third £1/15/4
Fourth. 17/4
Total. 4. 4. 4
Last month was £5.18.6 so that is a come down. Only got 12/6 from Photographic Journal. Have only 2/ left so if you happen to be at all flush just remember the poor, if not don’t worry for we can easily run a bill or two and subsist on the patients.
Have written my final letters to Switzerland today. Shall never write there again. You shall see all the correspondence when you come back. Have had two conciliatory letters from E trying to put me in the wrong.
[P.S.] After writing this I suddenly ran short and could not post it for 2 days for want of 21/2. Palmer lent me £1. Goss wants me to manage his practise for a week or so which is a good thing.
Writing to his sisters Annette and Lottie in Portugal, where they were governesses, he painted a mixed picture of his life at this time, without losing his sense of optimism:
to Annette and Lottie Doyle SOUTHSEA, FEBRUARY 1883
You have heard that it is all off between Elmo and me? It was so long brewing that it did not come as such a shock as you might think. Still it bowled me over at the time a little. I cant find any woman like my sisters after all.
The practise was stagnant for a month and nearly broke my heart. It has taken a good turn again now however and things look much more cheerful. I shall be hard pushed for the rent & things on March 24th—but on the whole I have no reason to complain. I am a most popular man here—have got on splendidly with everyone I have met whether friends or patients—in fact I am too popular for people are always running in and out ‘Just to see how I am getting on’ as they express it and the result is that I have done precious little writing lately.
The mother comes back next week I hope and goes North after a few days here. What a wonderful woman she is! She seems quite hopeful now about the practise though it was dead against her wishes and advice that I started. I think circumstances have shown me to be right though.
One reason for renewed optimism was the Gresham Life Assurance Society. He had succeeded in being taken on as a medical examiner for its Portsmouth business, by its local agent George Barnden, which meant additional badly needed income. For some time, when things looked dark, a ‘Gresham guinea’ now and then saw him and Innes through.
to Mary Doyle SOUTHSEA
I did a good two days work in London. Imprimis I picked out as much furniture as I saw any chance of getting, and made arrangements which will ensure my getting it quickly and safely. I reckon one way and the other it will cost me about a fiver getting it down, including packing, repair of a clock &c—however I shall be able to stand that, I hope, and then I will have the place nice when the girls come down—though indeed it is very nice now, as you would acknowledge with surprise if you saw it. The Consulting Room is a bijou room—17 well framed pictures 11 vases quite aesthetic. The other one is much nicer now than the front room was when you were here.
Well to continue my narrative I also brought down with me and actually secured all such things as were actually portable. Let me see if I can give a list.
1. Grandpapa’s bust—same as we had at home—stands now on my hall table.
2. Seven good engravings well framed—including one of Crystal Palace—now in my hall—with writing underneath ‘To Richard Doyle from Joseph Paxton’—also fine portrait of Grandfather.
3. A good new frock coat which fits me well—also three dozen collars—also sundry shirts &c.
4. A fine vase of Derbyshire spar, and various odds & ends.
5. Books galore—so many that my big new bookcase is quite full.
That was pretty good for one raid was it not? The rest is to come as soon as may be.
Man with the Mattock came back, and went on by return to Belgravia. Never say die! I am sure you could write splendidly, dear, if you can do it as you tell stories. My cancer case has done very well and patients are looking up.
Excuse this very disconnected letter. None of my money has come in but I expect some daily. Am up to my eyes in work, literary and other.
to Mary Doyle SOUTHSEA
Just a line to say that we have had another lucky hit—A man broke his jaw & fractured his skull just outside the house today in a carriage accident (vide newspaper) and I had to take him home and received 2 guineas for my trouble. Also got in Madame B’s—three pounds—so there is half the rent. The other half is more than covered by the Gresham cheque, so that is all right. I ordered a new armchair—a rug—and a chiffonier today on the strength of it at 12 months’ credit. All necessary. Sent off Ghost Story to Temple Bar. Am writing a leader on Sealing for the Daily Telegraph—will write another on Whaling if successful. Take a good rest now and enjoy yourself.
to Charlotte Drummond SOUTHSEA
The practise is getting along wonderfully. Medicine brought in more than 11 pounds in February, and I hope March will be better still—in fact I have made as much already. I am the luckiest fellow in the way of getting accidents and other advertisements. I enclose a cutting from the local paper of three days ago as a proof. There is comparative stagnation in literature however, though I have a scientific article in this month’s ‘Good Words’ and a story called ‘Gentlemanly Joe’ appears in April ‘All the Year Round’.
How I wish I could have had some of the dancing. I have only been out once since I have been here and have forgotten all about it—indeed I would not dare to venture on a waltz. Jessie will have to take me in hand again when we meet. Poor Tom! I am so sorry to hear he has been bad—and Mrs Wilson too! I hope they will do well as the spring weather comes on.
I think you are right about Elmo. It was rather a wrench at the time but I can see clearly now that we would have been very illmatched. I don’t think I have anything to reproach myself with in the matter—for I could not be expected after a formal dismissal to make it up again next moment.
to Mary Doyle SOUTHSEA
Your cheery letter of yesterday did me as much good as a holiday could. It was bank holiday by the way but I was hard at work all day. At 2.30 in the morning I was called out to a poor man who was suffering from hernia or rupture. After endeavouring to get it back without success I left him giving him opium & other directions. At 11.30 I called with Pike (who was going [on] a fishing excursion) & both tried but failed. At 3.30 I called with Claremont & endeavoured to reduce it under chloroform but again in vain. The man was now sinking (55 yrs old) and there was no hope of life but an operation. I may tell you that it is a very rare thing indeed for a private practitioner to attempt an operation of such magnitude—they are usually sent on to the hospital—in fact the operation for strangulated hernia is a most difficult & dangerous one and is regarded as a touchstone of surgery. I determined to stick to my case so at 6 Claremont gave ether & I operated. I took an hour & a half with a most successful result and when I called in again at 11 he was doing well. All the friends & relations were blessing me, and I think if I get little money I will get a lot of credit out of the operation.
Don’t think because I am wanting money that affairs are not right or that we are outrunning the constable. On the contrary we are flourishing but for the time I am in a regular corner and want money very badly so if you can help do. Let me see how I stand as much for my own information as yours.
The letter included a long list of bills of his he hoped his patients would pay, and what he owed the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker, and others—including the unremarked irony that in the midst of barely making ends meet, he also owed (under ‘pressing debts’) a pound and ten shillings for the poor tax. Then the letter resumed:
So that the total of my pressing debts is only about £4.15.0—and of all my debts about £14—to meet which I have a certain £10 and another £4 which I have no reason to doubt that I will get. I think that is a healthy state when we consider that this is tax time &
so there is an unusual pressure, & also that we have been spending money on the house. Of course behind all the debts hovers the drug bill & the five or six pounds I owe to Miller the furniture man, but I have long credit with each and it is a case of a pound here & there at my own convenience. Then there is the rent but the Gresham owe me £2.10.0 for next month already—and a guinea is taken off by the property tax. I think on the whole the outlook is satisfactory.
Conan Doyle, young, lacking an M.D., and rather diffident, did not dun his patients very severely. A note accompanying a patient’s bill, sent around this time, advised:
Dear Mrs Boismaison—
Though I am forced to send in my bills at regular intervals in order to keep my books square, I need hardly say that there is not the slightest reason for your settling them until it entirely suits your convenience. Hoping that you are keeping well, I remain
Very sincerely yours
A. Conan Doyle, MB CM*
to Mary Doyle SOUTHSEA, MARCH 1883
Today is Innes’ birthday. Two books came from Portugal by the first post and a jolly letter from the girls. The visit of the London contingent has left us hard up, but we will keep the birthday next week when we are richer by a little walk and a meal out.
I had 2 confinements in one night the night before last. One altogether my own (21/) and the other for Pike. Both forceps cases but did well. My name is really spreading in a wonderful way. A London gentleman came to consult me yesterday—recommended he said by Dr Abercrombie of Charing Cross Hospital. A woman from Natal came the day before also recommended. I have had a lot of stray cases too. I am owed nearly £5 on bills (reliable ones I mean) & the Gresham owe me £6.6 for next month. I told you that in February I took over 11 pounds. I have taken well over 13 in March.
Burton & Davies stayed 5 days and enjoyed their trip very much I think. Willy took the rosaries &c.mdash;he left the flask though I implored him to take it. He took our only comb however as a slight remembrance. I am bringing out pyrogallic acid as a medicine. You will see a learned article about it presently in the Lancet. I have been trying it on myself and now intend to physic the patients.
Barnden & I have been thinking of making an insuring raid on Edinburgh. I should like a run up awfully. It would put new life into me. If we could be sure of one £1000 case we would be right for our Xs. I wonder if you could work it in any way. I have half a mind to write to Mrs Ryan & Drummond. I shall not however until I hear from you.
Kind remembrances to all. Never think of us, dear, but cheerfully for we are doing well in every way and see our way to doing a great deal better. We shall be doing 30 a month soon I hope.
to Mary Doyle SOUTHSEA
Last week I took £1.17.6 in which there was only one little bill of 13/6 so that all the rest came simply from odd droppers in which I consider wonderfully good—the best I have ever done. Pike keeps me trotting about a good deal but I never see the colour of his money however it is all an introduction.
Have sent an article to the D.T. but do not know its fate.* Am now writing an account of Burton & Davies’ doings for the B J of P which shall pay all the expences of their visit, and something over. Mrs Smith is talking of leaving us & taking a shop which will be a blow to Innes and me—you cant imagine how kind she was when I was seedy lately—you could not have been more tender yourself. I have changed my grocer to one Wallingford who en revanche has become a patient—more by token he paid the 13/6 mentioned above & is now running up another bill as hard as he can. Another nice patient—manager of a brewery turned up last week. Old Capt Palmer has been bad—facial paralysis—but is recovering. George sends all that is kind. I have a red globe for the hall gas which is an improvement looking lurid and professional. I have my eye on such a nice Consulting Room table—£6 but gorgeous. I shall not get it until I have £5 in hand.
to Mary Doyle SOUTHSEA
I have been rather seedy & am laid up today by a wretched toothache—It kept me awake all last night and as I was at a confinement (my own) all the night before I feel stupid. I do not know whether it arises from defects in the drainage, or whether the anxieties of the last 9 months are beginning to tell upon me but for the last month I have been in a very low state. For a week I had colic & indigestion—then a week’s cough—then a week’s sore throat and now my old neuralgia. I have bad dreams and wake unrefreshed. Altogether I think a day or two’s holiday would not be amiss, but I do not know where to go to for as you say Edinburgh is deserted and as to Paris I fear Aunties company would hardly be the right medicine for a man who is suffering from irritability and low spirits. I will wait till this fit passes off & see what I think then. I am loath to spend any money unless it be really to do me good.
I think what you say is quite right. Still we must remember that both your life & mine are well insured—that the practise promises to do well, in fact is doing well—that Lottie is coming to the front and that as you say, your expenses will diminish in the country. Thus we have not the same reason to fear ‘rainy days’ that we had even 12 months ago. I think if you put 50 by—or say 70. And with the remainder purchased yourself a couple of smart dresses & generally titivated yourself it would be a good idea. As to the table I shall not get it until I have money to buy it—or at least £5. The taxes are coming in but I see my way to meet them all easily. The only thing I want here is a pair of curtains for the front room upstairs—If we had them it would not be known from the street that the room was not furnished. That is all we want. We can gradually furnish the back room ourselves—in fact it is looking smart already.
Two weeks of April have passed & have brought in the same sum in ready money—viz £1.18.2 each—rather a curious coincidence. Gresham cheque will be 5.6.0. So that with the takings of the remaining two weeks I shall make a good try to do £14 in the month which would satisfy me as beating 13.17.6 of last month. We thought we did well in December with 5.18.6. Truly we have no reason to complain!
I go to a ball tomorrow night—that is if this infernal neuralgia will allow me. It is rather a common subscription affair—however Barnden wished me to go & I suppose an unmarried man may go anywhere.*
Mrs S has gone but only on the stipulation that she comes back whenever wanted. Mrs G is in disgrace. She has been snapping & snarling at Mrs S and generally looking sulky & disagreeable. Also Mrs S accuses her of eating our bacon and tea—and Innes found her drinking our beer out of the barrel so I had her up to a court martial & nearly scared her out of her life. She has been far more attentive the last couple of days but I fear she is rather a fraud. She returns Mrs S’s charge of pinching our food, but that, as I told her, only makes her own case blacker since she was in charge & should have reported it. All the same I don’t believe Mrs S did. I find, by the way, that they are no relation whatever to each other!
‘For some time Innes and I lived entirely alone, doing the household tasks between us,’ wrote Conan Doyle in Memories and Adventures, ‘and going on long walks in the evening to keep ourselves fit. Then I had a brain-wave and I put an advertisement in the evening paper that a ground floor was to let in exchange for services. I had numerous applicants in reply, and out of them I chose two elderly women who claimed to be sisters—a claim which they afterwards failed to make good. When once they were installed we became quite a civilized household and things began to look better. There were complex quarrels, however, and one of the women left.’
She was far the better of the two, though—and then the second one left as well, but not voluntarily, according to a letter to Charlotte Drummond: ‘She got intolerable so at last I told her I could not have it. She went away without a word of goodbye, and what is more to the point without paying me one farthing and left me with all her bills on my hands. However we were too glad at losing her to grumble very much. She also stole a lot of tea sugar butter etc of mine in order to give her a fair start in her new lodgings. She was an awful woman.’ To Lottie, he reported, ‘I have discharged Mrs Gifford who was an awful fraud. We ha
ve been five days without anyone now, cooking and everything for ourselves but Mrs Smith the other one is coming back.’
‘The first woman had seemed to be the most efficient,’ he observed. ‘I followed her up and found that she had started a small shop. Her rent was weekly, so that was easily settled, but she talked gloomily about her stock. ‘I will buy everything in your shop,’ I said in a large way. It cost me exactly seventeen and sixpence, and I was loaded up for many months with matches, cakes of blacking and other merchandise. From then onwards our meals were cooked for us, and we became in all ways normal.’
Throughout, he told Lottie, Innes had been ‘a splendid little fellow. You can never realize how cheerily he has shared all the anxiety and trouble of the last ten months.’
to Mary Doyle SOUTHSEA
I always utilize the backs of patients notes as they serve the double purpose of saving paper and of letting you see that business is stirring. 12.13.10 it was that I made in April and 13.17.6 in March. Do you remember how well pleased we were with 5.18.6 in December. The clothes have not arrived so I have kept Innes at home. The 5/ will be very welcome as my assets amount to exactly three halfpence. I took 28/ the day before yesterday—of which I gave 22/6 to the drug people & 5/ to the baker. The box has gone to Ireland but Mrs G sent it without paying for it which makes me uncomfortable. She has gone now and I don’t know the address. I hope to goodness she did put in all the things. I should never have thought of the possibility but for your suggestion. I gave her the watch & other things but as you may imagine I was sick of the whole business and left it entirely to her. She had not appeared in her true colours then—the poor collars are gone I fear. Mrs S comes in today and brings with her a great quantity of furniture which she had stored in a warehouse before. We shall have the use of most of that. I told you that I give her 2/6 a week. She owes me a pound which I gave her to help her in her troubles. We shall soon improve the house for she really takes an interest. I have had those horrid glazed panes knocked out of the door at the end of the lobby and red ones substituted which gives the whole lobby a lurid & artistic sort of look.