ItwasSemperIdem\'srecoverywhichhadsofullycompensatedDoctorBicknellforthelossofthesailorman。Livesweretohimasnothing，theunpleasantbutinevitableincidentsoftheprofession，butcases，ah，caseswereeverything。Peoplewhoknewhimwerepronetobrandhimabutcher，buthiscolleagueswereatoneinthebeliefthatabolderandyetamorecapablemanneverstoodoverthetable。Hewasnotanimaginativeman。Hedidnotpossess，andhencehadnotolerancefor，emotion。Hisnaturewasaccurate，precise，scientific。Menweretohimnomorethanpawns，withoutindividualityorpersonalvalue。Butascasesitwasdifferent。Themorebrokenamanwas，themoreprecarioushisgriponlife，thegreaterhissignificanceintheeyesofDoctorBicknell。Hewouldasreadilyforsakeapoetlaureatesufferingfromacommonaccidentforanameless，mangledvagrantwhodefiedeverylawoflifebyrefusingtodie，aswouldachildforsakeaPunchandJudyforacircus。
SoithadbeeninthecaseofSemperIdem。Themysteryofthemanhadnotappealedtohim，norhadhissilenceandtheveiledromancewhichtheyellowreportershadsosensationallyandsofruitlesslyexploitedindiversSundayeditions。ButSemperIdem\'sthroathadbeencut。Thatwasthepoint。Thatwaswherehisinteresthadcentred。Cutfromeartoear，andnotonesurgeoninathousandtogiveasnapofthefingersforhischanceofrecovery。But，thankstotheswiftmunicipalambulanceserviceandtoDoctorBicknell，hehadbeendraggedbackintotheworldhehadsoughttoleave。TheDoctor\'sco-workershadshakentheirheadswhenthecasewasbroughtin。Impossible，theysaid。Throat，windpipe，jugular，allbutactuallysevered，andthelossofbloodfrightful。Asitwassuchaforegoneconclusion，DoctorBicknellhademployedmethodsanddonethingswhichmadethem，evenintheirprofessionalcapacities，shudder。Andlo!
themanhadrecovered。
So，onthismorningthatSemperIdemwastoleavethehospital，haleandhearty，DoctorBicknell\'sgenialitywasinnowisedisturbedbythesteward\'sreport，andheproceededcheerfullytobringorderoutofthechaosofachild\'sbodywhichhadbeengroundandcrunchedbeneaththewheelsofanelectriccar。
Asmanywillremember，thecaseofSemperIdemarousedavastdealofunseemlyyethighlynaturalcuriosity。Hehadbeenfoundinaslumlodging，withthroatcutasaforementioned，andblooddrippingdownupontheinmatesoftheroombelowanddisturbingtheirfestivities。Hehadevidentlydonethedeedstanding，withheadbowedforwardthathemightgazehislastuponaphotographwhichstoodonthetableproppedagainstacandlestick。ItwasthisattitudewhichhadmadeitpossibleforDoctorBicknelltosavehim。Soterrifichadbeenthesweepoftherazorthathadhehadhisheadthrownback，asheshouldhavedonetohaveaccomplishedtheactproperly，withhisneckstretchedandtheelasticvascularwallsdistended，hewouldhaveofacertaintywell-nighdecapitatedhimself。