tright. "What makes you so
cross, Doctor, and to what do I owe the honor of a visit?"

Then he broke out. "I have been cheated by Mr. Carteaux. He has not paid
me a cent. He has got another doctor."

"Wise man, Mr. Carteaux; but what on earth have I to do with that
Jacobin?"

In his anger the doctor had quite lost sight for the moment of the
object of his visit, which was to know if Schmidt had gone never to
return, as was freely reported. Now he remembered.

"I desire to know if Mr. Schmidt will come back. He promised to pay if
Carteaux did not. Oh, it is a fine story--of him and De Courval. A
despatch has been stolen--every one knows that. I am not to be trifled
with, Madame. I can tell a nice tale."

"Can you, indeed? I advise you to be careful what you say. Mr. Schmidt
will return and then you will get some unusual interest on your money.
Have you no sense of honor that you must talk as you have done?"

"I do never talk," he said, becoming uneasy.

Miss Gainor rose, having heard all she wished to hear. "Lord! man, talk!
You do nothing else. You have been chattering about this matter to Mrs.
Byrd. If I were you, I should be a bit afraid. How much money is owing
you?"

"Three hundred dollars, and--I have lost patients, too. I have--"

"Sit down," she said. "Don't behave like a child." She went to her desk,
wrote a check and gave it to him. "May I trouble you for a receipt?" He
gave it, surprised and pleased. "And now do hold your tongue if you can,
or if Mr. Schmidt does not beat you when he comes home, I will. You have
no more decency than you have hair."

This set him off again. "Ah you think it is only money, money. You, a
woman, can say things. I am insult," he cried. "I will have revenge of
Schmidt, if he do come. I will have blood."

"Blood, I would," she said. "Get your lancet ready." She broke into
laughter at the idea of a contest with the German. "I will hear no more.
These are my friends." When in one of her fits of wrath, now rare, she
was not choice of her words. Both were now standing. "A flea and a bear,
you and Schmidt! Lord, but he will be scared--poor man!"

He too was in a fine rage, such as he never allowed himself with men.
"Oh, I am paid, am I? That will not be all of it." He rose on tiptoe,
gesticulating wildly, and threw his hands out, shaking them. There was a
sudden clatter of broken china.

"Great heavens!" cried Gainor. "Two of my gods gone, and my blue
mandarin!"

For a m