“The dilation and thickening of the veins with lengthening and tortuosity, and projection of certain points in the form of knots or knobs, in which the blood coagulates, fibrin is deposited, and in the centre sometimes even osseous matter; in addition the coats of the veins are diseased.”

There was more about it than that.  It looked a very black case indeed.  Many a man had been turned down for varicose veins, and—­and—­well, the doctors ought to know about it.  That was all....  They ought to know about it....  He oughtn’t to go there and pass himself off under false pretences....  Mind you, he wanted to fight the Germans all right.  He wanted to do his bit—­nobody more so.  But was it fair not to let the doctors see what was the matter with him?  He certainly had those knots and knobs when he walked very hard.  Who knew?  Perhaps there was “fibrin” and “osseous matter” there.  At any rate, the doctors ought to see his leg under fair conditions....

He didn’t hold with allowing your patriotism to make you deceive your country.  It wasn’t fair to the country to let it spend a heap of money on a fellow who might “crock up” in the first week or two.  It wasn’t fair to the fellow either.  Not that he was thinking about himself....  Not at all.  It was the country he was thinking of.  A fellow must think about the country sometimes.  It was his duty to put his own feelings, as it were, under the tap.  He wanted to go to the war as much as any man, but he didn’t want the country to lose by him....

Yes, it was his duty to walk.  It was his duty not to conceal those knots and knobs.  He hoped they wouldn’t be a fatal objection.  But he was going to play a straight bat with the country whatever happened....  He was not the man to palm himself for what he wasn’t.  He would show the doctor quite plainly what his varicose vein was like.

When Victor Crummles entered the room he was feeling a bit tired, but courageous.  He had taken another “stiffener” at the “Spread Eagle” and felt equal to any fate.  There were two doctors in the room—­one sitting at a table, the other standing by the window.

“Anything the matter with you?” said he at the table.

“Not that I know,” said Victor with the air of a man who meant business.  Then, as if unwillingly dragging the truth out of himself he added, “I have got a bit of a varicose vein, but it’s hardly worth mentioning.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” said the doctor.  “We’ve got past that stage.  Now strip.”

Don’t worry about that!  Got past that stage!  What did it mean?...  Well, he had done his duty....  If there was fibrin and osseous matter in his veins he had given them fair warning.  It was the country that would suffer.  These doctors,... well, there....

“Stripped?  Now, let’s have a look at you.”

The doctor examined him carefully.  Perhaps that varicose vein would surprise him after all.  He’d walked two miles and it ought to be ... not that he wanted it to be; but if it was—­well, it was only fair they should know.