my rehearsals?" said Labassandre.

"But you, Dr. Hirsch," continued Charlotte, "you are tied down to the
opera-house!"

"Certainly not; and my patients are nearly all in the country at this
season."

The idea of Dr. Hirsch having any patients was very funny, and yet no
one laughed.

"Well, decide!" cried the poet, "In the first place, you would be doing
me a favor, and could prescribe for me."

"To be sure. The physician here knows nothing of your constitution,
while I can soon set you on your feet again. I am sick of the Institute
and of Moron-val, and never wish to see either more." Thereupon the
doctor launched forth in a philippic against the school which supported
him. Moronval was a thorough humbug, he never paid anybody, and every
one was giving him up; the affair of Madou had done him great injury;
and finally Dr. Hirsch went so far as to compliment Jack on his
energetic departure.

At this moment Dr. Rivals was shown into the dining-room; he was
overjoyed at finding so gay and talkative a circle. "You see, madame, I
was right: our invalid only needed a little excitement."

"There I differ from you!" cried Dr. Hirsch, fiercely, snuffing the
battle from afar.

Old Rivals examined this singular person with some distrust. "Dr.
Hirsch," said D'Argenton, "allow me to present you to Dr. Rivals."
They bowed like two duellists on the field who salute each other
before crossing their swords. The country physician concluded his
new acquaintance to be some famous Parisian practitioner, full of
eccentricities and hobbies. D'Argenton's illness was the occasion of a
long discussion between the physicians.

It was droll to see the poet's expression. He was inclined to take
offence that Dr. Rivals should consider him a mere hypochondriac, and
again to be equally annoyed when Dr. Hirsch insisted upon his having a
hundred diseases, each one with a worse name than the others.

Charlotte listened with tears in her eyes.

"But this is utter nonsense," cried Rivals, who had listened
impatiently; "there are no such diseases, in the first place, and if
there were, our friend has no such symptoms."

This was too much for Dr. Hirsch, and the battle began in earnest. They
hurled at each other titles of books in every language, names of every
drug known and unknown to the faculty. The scene was more laughable than
terrific, and was very much like one from "Moliere." Jack and his mother
escaped to the piazza, Where Labassand