«I'm sorry we can't give information about our patients.»

«Well, this is just a routine matter of record,» Mason said casually. «The patient is Lauretta Trent. You had her in the hospital on three occasions within the last several months and all I'm interested in is finding out the name of her physician.»

«Just a moment, we can give you that information.»

«I'll hold the phone, if I may,» Mason said.

A moment later the voice said, «The physician was Dr. Ferris Alton. He's in the Randwell Building.»

«Thank you,» Mason said.

The lawyer hung up, turned to Della Street, «Let's see if we can get Dr. Alton's nurse.»

«His nurse?»

«Yes,» Mason said, «I'd like to talk with Dr. Alton, but I think I'll have to speak with his nurse, personally, before we can get him on the line. After all, this is probably the beginning of a busy afternoon for a doctor. He probably sees a lot of office patients in the afternoon, does operating in the morning and makes hospital visits after that.»

Della Street got the number; asked Gertie in the outer office for an outside line, dialed the number and again nodded to Perry Mason.

Mason picked up the telephone, said, «How do you do? This is Perry Mason, an attorney. I know that Dr. Alton is very busy and that this is just before the busiest time of the afternoon, but it is quite important that I speak with him briefly concerning a matter which may affect a patient of his.»

«_Perry_ Mason, the lawyer?» the feminine voice asked.

«That's right.»

«Oh, I'm quite sure he'd want to talk with you personally. He's busy at the moment, but I'll interrupt him and-Can you hang on to the line for a few moments?»

«I'll be glad to,» Mason said.

There was a period of silence. Then a tired, slightly impatient voice said, «Yes, this is Dr. Ferris Alton talking.»

«Perry Mason, the attorney,» the lawyer told him. «I wanted to ask you a few questions about a patient of yours.»

«What sort of questions, and who is the patient?»

«Lauretta Trent,» Mason said. «You've had her hospi~ talized several times within the last few months.»

«Well?» Dr. Alton asked, and this time the note of impatience was quite apparent in his voice.

«Can you tell me the nature of the malady?»

«I can not!» Dr. Alton snapped.

«Very well, then,» Mason said. «I can perhaps tell you something which will be of interest. I have reason to believe that Lauretta Trent made a will; that this will was executed in the office of an attorney by the name of Delano Bannock; that the attorney is now deceased; that persons are interested in surreptitiously obtaining a copy of that will; that some of the persons associated with Lauretta Trent may be taking an active interest in a search of this kind.

«Now then, I am asking you this. Are you completely satisfied with your diagnosis in the case of Lauretta Trent?»

«Certainly. Otherwise I wouldn't have discharged her.»

«I understand, generally,» Mason said, «that she had a gastroenteric disturbance.»

«Well, what of it?»

«And,» Mason said, «I have before me several of the authorities on forensic medicine and toxicology. I find that it is generally agreed that cases of arsenic poisoning are seldom diagnosed by the attending physician, since the symptoms are those of a gastroenteric disturbance.

«You're crazy,» Dr. Alton said.

«Therefore,» Mason went on, «I think you will understand my position when I ask you if there were abdominal cramps, cramps in the calves of the legs, a burning sensation in the stomach and-«

«Good God!» Dr. Alton interrupted.

Mason ceased talking, waiting for the doctor to say something.

There was a long period of silence over the phone.

«No one would possibly want to poison Lauretta Trent,» Dr. Alton said.

«How do you know?» Mason asked.

There was another period of silence.

«What's your interest in this matter?» Dr. Alton asked at length.

«My interest is purely incidental,» Mason said. «I can assure you that while I am representing a client, that client has no interests adverse to those of Lauretta Trent and there is no reason why you could not make any statement to me that you can make without disclosing a privileged professional confidence.»

Dr. Alton said, «You've given me something to think about, all right, Mason. Her symptoms had a great deal in common with those of arsenic poisoning. You're so right, physicians who are called in on cases of this sort almost never suspect the possibilities of homicidal poisoning. The cases are almost invariably given a diagnosis of enteric disturbance.»

«That,» the lawyer told him, «is why I'm calling you.»

«Do you have some suggestions?» Dr. Alton asked.

«Yes,» Mason said. «I would suggest that you get a sample of her hair pulled out by the roots, if possible. And, if possible, some cuttings of the fingernails. Let's have them analyzed for arsenic and see if we get a positive reaction.

«In the meantime, I would suggest that you try not to alarm your patient, but take steps to see that she is put upon a restricted diet which is enforced by special roundthe-clock nurses-in other words, a rigid dietary supervision.

«I take it the patient is in such a financial position that the expense can be justified?»

«Of course,» Dr. Alton said. «… My Lord, she has a heart condition which can't stand too many of these upsets. I warned her, the last one. I thought it was dietary indiscretion. She has a weakness for highly spiced Mexican food with considerable garlic-That would be almost a perfect disguise for a dose of arsenic-Mason, how long are you going to be in your office?»

«I'll be here all afternoon,» Mason said, «and if you need me after office hours, you can get me through the Drake Detective Agency. Ask for Paul Drake. The offices are in the same building where I have my offices and are on the same floor.»

«You'll be hearing from me,» Dr. Alton said. «In the meantime, I'm going to make arrangements right away to insure that nothing else questionable will happen.»

«Please bear in mind that we must try to keep from making any accusations or any statements which will alarm your patient until we're certain,» Mason said.

«I understand, I understand,» Alton said sharply. «Damn it, Mason, I've been practicing medicine for thirtyfive years-My God, man, you've given me a jolt… Classic symptoms of arsenic poisoning and I never suspected a thing-you'll be hearing from me. Goodbye.»

The connection was sharply terminated.

Mason said to Virginia, «I don't like to restrict your liberties, Virginia, but I want you to be where I can reach you. Go to your apartment and stay there. Report every single thing out of the ordinary. I'll have my phone so you can get to me at any time.»

Drake frowned and said, «But they couldn't prove a will by using a copy, could they, Perry?»

«Under certain limited circumstances, yes,» Mason said. «If a will is missing, the general presumption is that it was destroyed by the testator, which is equivalent to a revocation. But if, for instance, a house should catch on fire and the testator should perish in the flames, it would be generally presumed that the will was burned up at the same time and, if there could be proof that it was still in effect at the time of the fire and the testator's death, then the contents could be established by secondary evidence.

«However, that's not what I'm thinking of.»

«What are you thinking of?» Drake asked.

Mason glanced at Virginia and shook his head. «I'm not prepared to say at the moment.

«Virginia, I want you to go on home. You may receive a call from this man you now know is George Eagan, Lauretta Trent's chauffeur.

«You'll remember this man told you he was George Menard.

«Now, if he calls on you, be very careful not to let on that you know who he really is. Be naive, gullible and perhaps a little greedy. If he acts as if he wanted to make you any sort of a proposition, let him feel you are willing to listen. Then stall for time.