see the force of your argument, my dear Mr Poynter,"
said the doctor blandly.

"Not see? Why, man, it would be patent medicine then, and no one could
take it from you. Look at Hannodyne--good stuff, too, when you've got a
headache in the morning--Government stamp, to imitate which is forgery!"

"But still, I--"

"Don't see? Nonsense! Make a fortune. You want it. Patients pretty
scarce, eh?"

He laughed again offensively, and the doctor winced, but kept up his
bland smooth smile.

"And suppose I took your advice, my dear Poynter, where is the friend to
lend me a thousand pounds?"

"Ah! where's the friend!" said Poynter, with a meaning look. "P'r'aps I
know the friend, if things went as he wanted."

The doctor's face changed slightly, but his visitor was too obtuse to
see it.

"And would you suggest that I should--er--preside in the little shop and
sell the allegorus?"

"Ah, that ain't a bad name, is it?" said Poynter, giving his head a
shake in the stiff collar in which it rested as an egg does in a cup.
"No, not you; not businesslike enough. Make Hendon do that."

"Ah," said the doctor slowly, as he took up the bottle, removed the
stopper, and smelled the contents before moistening one finger and
tasting it.

"You'll end by poisoning yourself with that stuff, doctor," said
Poynter, chuckling.

"No," he said blandly, "no, my dear James Poynter, no; it is a
life-giver, not a destroyer. Now, if you were to take, say, twenty
drops in water--"

"With sugar?" said Poynter, grinning.

"Yes, with sugar, if you liked. There's no objection to flavouring the
vehicle--water."

"Vehicle--water? Why, I never heard of water being called a vehicle!
Thought vehicle meant a carriage or trap."

"In this case the water would be the vehicle, Poynter, and, as I was
saying, if you were to take twenty drops of this extract, or rather,
compound, you would feel as if a new lease of life were beginning--that
everything looked brighter; that nerve and muscle were being strung up;
your power of thought greater, and--try a little, my dear sir."

"No, thankye, doctor; but if you've got a drop of brandy in the place
and a bottle of soda, you may make it more than twenty drops of that."

"I have some brandy," said the doctor, rising, "but no soda-water. I
can mix you a little soda and tartaric acid, though, in a glass of
water, and it will have all the effect."

James Poynter showed his great white teeth in a broad