The Black Museum - The Walking Stick

Dr. Richard Martinson, of Glasgow, loved to give lectures, sometimes with pictures and slides of places where he said he'd been. Once, he gave a lecture about the beautiful Isle of Capri in the Mediterranean. He said it is the loveliest island of all the seven seas, with its blue waters and picturesque coastline. He had the soul of a poet, apparently, this Dr. Martinson, and he was also, according to himself, a great lover of liberty. He also said he knew Giuseppe Garibaldi, the great Italian general and revolutionary, whose courage was as great as man's can be. Martinson claimed that Garibaldi gave him his walking stick as a token of the high esteem in which he held him. Altogether, Martinson was a remarkable man, at least in his own eyes. Of course, there were those in Glasgow who were skeptical, perhaps with reason. Some said that he had never been out of the British Isles, except for a week in Paris. Others said that his stories about Garibaldi were nonsense. These discussions about his veracity didn't exactly help Dr. Martinson's practice, which in fact, was a pity, as the doctor's wife, Sylvia, was chronically ill. Martinson says "And how are we today, Sylvia, my dear?" She says "Oh, as well as I can expect, Richard". He asks "Have you had anything to eat today?" She says "I don't have any appetite, you know that". He says "The tonic I gave you is to stimulate your appetite, dear". She says "Oh, I can't abide the tonic, Richard. I'm sorry, but I can't". As Sylvia's condition worsened, Mrs. Toomy, Sylvia's mother, came to stay. Mrs. Toomy says "Richard, I don't believe you're giving Sylvia proper attention". Richard says "Why Mother Toomy, she's getting the best medical care available". Mrs. Toomy says "And she still won't eat. I've made up my mind, Richard. I'm taking over where Sylvia is concerned. First thing necessary is strength". Mrs. Toomy makes tapioca for her daughter, and tries to get her to eat it, but has no success. Mrs. Toomy ends up eating it herself. Later, Evelyn, the Martinson's maid, runs to the doctor and says "Oh, Doctor, she's taken so sick". Richard says "Who, my wife?" Evelyn says "Oh, no, sir. It's Mrs. Toomey. She's taken dreadfully sick".