sts here; we will
drive out heat by heat. What shall we drink?"

"A mild punch would be best for the patient," said the doctor.

"Bring the pine-apple, my good Anton; it is somewhere there, with the
rest of the apparatus."

"Ha!" cried the doctor, as Anton produced the fruit, and the servant
came in with a basket of wine; "a sweet Colossus, a remarkable specimen
indeed! With your leave, I'll make the punch. The proportions must have
some reference to the state of the patient."

So saying, the doctor put his hand into his pocket, and brought out a
black case, in which he looked for a knife to cut the fruit.

The young hussars broke out at once into a volley of oaths.

"My good sirs," cried the doctor, little moved by the storm he had
raised, "has any one of you got a knife? Not one, I know. There is
nothing to be found in your pockets but looking-glasses and brushes; and
which of you understands the making of a bowl that a man of the world
can drink? You can, indeed, empty one, but make it you can not."

"I will try what I can do, doctor," said Bolling, from a corner.

"Ah! Herr von Bolling, are you here too?" replied the doctor, with a
bow.

Bolling took the pine-apple, and carefully held it out of reach of the
medical arm. "Come here, Anton," said he, "and take care that that
monster of a doctor does not approach our punch with his
dissecting-knife."

While these two were brewing, the doctor took out two packs of cards,
and solemnly laid them on the table.

"None of your cards!" cried Eugene; "to-day, at least, let us be
together without sinning."

"You can't," said the doctor, mockingly; "you'll be the first to touch
them. I thought of nothing but a quiet game at whist, a game for pious
hermits. Time, however, will show what you will make of these packs;
there they lie by the candlesticks."

"Don't listen to the tempter," cried one of the lieutenants, laughing.

"Whoever touches the cards first shall forfeit a breakfast to the
party," said another.

"Here is the punch," said Bolling, setting down the bowl. "Taste it, oh
man of blood!"

"Raw!" pronounced the oracle; "it would be drinkable to-morrow evening."

While these gentlemen were disputing about the merits of the beverage,
Eugene took up one of the packs of cards, and mechanically cut them. The
doctor exclaimed, "Caught, I declare! He himself is the one to pay the
forfeit." All laughed, and crowded round the table. "The bank, doctor,"
cried