Doctor Frigo Read Online Free PDF Page B

you ask that Dr Brissac has been consulted and given his consent to the arrangement.’
    I said the first thing that came into my head. ‘And what about Monsieur Villegas? Has he given
his
consent?’
    ‘When he was given permission to reside here it was made clear that all arrangements for his security and welfare would be in the hands of this office.’
    ‘But where a doctor is concerned he is surely entitled to some freedom of choice.’
    ‘Certainly, and he has already exercised it by dismissing Dr Massot.’
    ‘On what grounds?’
    ‘Lack of communication. You said yourself that Massot’s Spanish left something to be desired. So does Villegas’ French. A certain amount of ill-feeling was generated between them, I gather.’
    ‘You say that Villegas came here, at any rate partly, on health grounds. Is there anything in particular the matter with him?’
    ‘According to Dr Massot, the man is a hypochondriac and perhaps also a secret drinker. I have the Massot report here if you would like to see it.’ He reached for the Villegas dossier.
    ‘I don’t think that would help. Has Villegas been told about me?’
    ‘Of course. Son of his old leader, qualified in Paris, a valued member of the local hospital staff with immediate access to modern diagnostic facilities and consultative advice, plus complete fluency in Spanish – we gave him all the facts needed on which to base a judgement.’
    ‘And he agreed to accept me?’
    ‘Unhesitatingly and with expressions of the warmest approval. He already knew, by the way, of your views on the subject of your mother’s Florida associates. I dare say he will question you, as I have, on your other political leanings. From what you have told me I don’t anticipate any difficulties there. He may try to convert or indoctrinate you, of course, and enlist you as a supporter, if only because of your name. But I imagine’ – he smiled sweetly – ‘that you will be as evasive or equivocal with him as you have been with me.’
    I did not respond to the provocation. ‘It sounds, Commissaire, as if you are expecting me to be making regular calls on this patient. Do you know of any medical reason why I should do so?’
    ‘I know of no specific illness. However, I would like you to see him not less than twice a week, Doctor, to become in effect a friend of the family.’ He paused briefly to let that sink in. ‘You will be entitled, I should add, to an honorarium of five hundred francs a month from DST funds for this service. That is the sum Dr Massot was being paid. It should compensate you adequately, I believe, for the extra time and work involved both in visiting Les Muettes – that is the villa in which Villegas is living – and in making your reports to this office …’
    ‘Reports?’
    He held up his hands defensively. ‘Please allow me to finish. You doctors! I had the same initial reaction from Massot. I am not asking you to violate your oath, your professional code of ethics. That, I am well aware, enjoins secrecy on you – at least, secrecy in matters which ought not, in the doctor’s judgement, to be spoken of. Naturally,I would not presume to ask you to report to me on the state of your patient’s liver or kidneys. On his general state of mind, however, and of that of his entourage, on the effect on his disposition, say, of any particular visitor he may receive – those are matters, I feel, of a non-professional nature on which you could properly give your impressions for our guidance. I would also hope that, should you be approached – and you may well be approached once it is known outside that you are the man’s doctor – by any person or persons seeking information about the occupants of Les Muettes, that too would be known here at once. So, regular reports. As I told you, our task is to protect our guest. And not only from diseases of the flesh, but from all other threats, actual or potential, to his well-being. You see?’
    ‘I see.’ Despite