human
What's a ''pinion,' Uncle Red?
gpt
It's what somebody else thinks about a thing when it agrees with what you think. When it doesn't agree it's a prejudice,
human
Grayson's idea about a certain case of mine is prejudice--pure prejudice. Van Horn's is bluster. Field's is non-committal. Buller would like to back me up--good old Buller--but is honestly convinced that I'm making an awful mess of it. I want an opinion--a distinguished opinion.
gpt
Why don't you send for it?
human
That's the trouble. The more distinguished the opinion I get the more my patient will have to pay for it, and he can't afford to pay a tin dollar. At the same time--By George! There's Leaver! I heard the other day that Leaver was at a sanitorium not a hundred miles away,--there for a rest. I'll wager he's there with a patient for a few days--at a good big price a day. Leaver never rests. He's made of steel wires. I believe I'll have him up on the long-distance and see if I can't get him to run over.
gpt
Is it Dr. John Leaver of Baltimore you speak of?
human
It surely is. Do you happen to know him?
gpt
Slightly, and by reputation--a great reputation.
human
Great? I should say so. Jack's been sawing wood without resting for ten years. We were great chums in college, though he was two classes ahead of me. I was with him again for a winter in Germany, when we were both studying there. If I can get him over here for a day, I'll have an opinion worth respecting, whether it happens to agree with mine or not. And if it doesn't, I'll not call it prejudice.