If this had been my own practice, I should have declined the case off-hand.

But it was not my practice.

I was only a deputy.

I could not lightly refuse work which would yield a profit to my principal, unpleasant though it might be.
As I turned the matter over in my mind, I half unconsciously scrutinized my visitor--somewhat to his embarrassment--and I liked his appearance as little as I liked his mission.

He kept his station near the door, where the light was dim--for the illumination was concentrated on the table and the patient's chair--but I could see that he had a somewhat sly, unprepossessing face and a greasy, red moustache that seemed out of character with his rather perfunctory livery; though this was mere prejudice.