"
"Well," replied Mr. Miles, "I am a plain man, and never hesitate to
tell people what they wish to know. I sent for Dr. Jones instead of
you, I confess not that I doubted your skill--"
"What then?"
"It is a delicate subject, but I will, nevertheless, speak out.
Although I had the utmost confidence in your skill and
faithfulness--I--you know, I--in short, I don't like to trust a
physician who drinks."
"Sir!" cried the astonished doctor.
"Yes--drinks," pursued Mr. Miles. "It is plain language, but I am a
plain man. I heard of your intemperance, and thought it unsafe--that
is, dangerous--to employ you."
"My intemperance!" ejaculated Dr. Harvey.
"Yes, sir! and I am sorry to know it. But the fact that you
sometimes drink a trifle too much is now a well known fact, and is
generally talked of in the village."
"Mr. Miles," cried the indignant doctor, "this is scandalous--it is
false! Who is your authority for this report?"
"Oh, I have heard it from several mouths but I can't say exactly who
is responsible for the rumour."
And Mr. Miles went on to mention several names, as connected with
the rumour, and among which was that of Mr. Query.
The indignant doctor immediately set out on a pilgrimage of
investigation, going from one house to another, in search of the
author of the scandal.
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