ed his legs, right over left, and Simms, standing before him,
gave him a little sharp tap just under the right knee cap. The leg flew
out.

Jones laughed.

"Exaggerated patella reflex," said Simms. "Nerve fag, nothing more. A
pill or two is all you want. You don't notice any difficulty in speech?"

"Not much," said Jones, laughing.

"Say--'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.'"

"'Peter Peter piped a pick--'" began Jones, then he laughed.

"You can't say it," said Simms, cocking a wise eyebrow.

"You bet I can," said the patient. "'Peter Piper pucked a pick'"--

"Nerve exhaustion," said Simms.

"Say, Doc," cut in Jones, beginning to feel slight alarm. "What are you
getting at, you're beginning to make me feel frightened, there's not
anything really wrong with me, is there?"

"Nothing but what can be righted by care," replied Simms.

"Let me try Mr. Jones with a lingual test," said Cavendish. "Say: 'She
stood at the door of the fish-sauce shop in the Strand welcoming him
in.'"

"She stood at the door of the fish shauce shop in the Strand welcom-om
ming im," said Jones.

"H'm, h'm," said Cavendish.

"That's crazy," said Jones, "nobody could say that--Oh, I'm all right--I
reckon a little liver pill will fix me up."

The two doctors withdrew to a window and said a few words together. Then
they both nodded to the Duke of Melford.

"Well," said the Duke, "that's settled and now, Mr. Jones, I hope you
will stay here for luncheon."

Jones had had enough of that house.

"Thanks," said he, "but I think I'll be getting back. I want a walk.
You'll find me at Carlton House Terrace where we can finish up this
business. It's a weight off my mind now everything is over--whew! I can
tell you I'm hungry for the States."

He rose and took his hat which he had placed on the floor, nodded to the
Duke of Melford and turned to the door.

Simms was standing in front of the door.

"Excuse me," said Simms, "but I would not advise you to go out in your
condition, much better stay here till your nerves have recovered."

Jones stared at him.

"My nerves are all right," said he.

"Don't, my dear fellow," said Cavendish.

Jones turned and looked at him, then turned again to the door.

Simms was barring the way still.

"Don't talk nonsense," said Jones, "think I was a baby. I tell you I'm
all right--what on earth do you mean--upon my soul, you're like a lot
of children."

He tried to pass Simms.

"You mu