e jerked out, fumbling and smelling among his bottles.

"I wanted news of Graves."

"I doubt not."

The words of themselves were innocuous, but the doctor's hammering
emphasis was formidable.

"I resent your tone," protested Shelby.

"And I, sir, resent your inquiry."

"You must have received many like it. However, you may keep your
bulletins. Those of the consulting physicians are probably more
reliable."

With this shaft he turned, but Dr. Crandall was beforehand and closed
the door.

"Not yet, sir, not yet," he said grimly. "I have a bulletin for you,
deem its worth what you will. And I have more. I must administer some
nasty medicine. My patient will recover, sir, and no thanks to you."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Yes, you do."

"You accuse me of lying--"

"Bah, sir, stop your ruffling. Now for your physic. At the instance
of my lifelong friend, Seneca Bowers, I consented against my better
judgment to preside last month at your ratification meeting, and so
lent you, as I may say, my public indorsement. I shall not publicly
stultify myself by repudiating that action, but my vote, thank Heaven,
I never pledged. I warn you, sir, that, as sure as I see the sun rise
on election day, I shall cast my ballot for your opponent, or my name's
not Crandall."

"Very well," sneered Shelby, coolly. "If your political allegiance
follows your fee, there's no more to be said."

"I am stoically indifferent to your slanderous imputation," fumed the
doctor, his manner a very Judas to his words; "but I assure you there
is more to be said, and that I purpose to say it. I have yet to tell
you that you are a blackguard, sir, a violent blackguard, whose proper
level is the ward cesspools of the metropolis where crime and politics
stalk hand in hand. Medical science will save the man you would have
done to death."

Shelby passed the vituperation, puzzling how much the irate doctor knew.

"Is your patient's delirium contagious?" he asked.

"Ha!" cried the doctor. "You do take my meaning."

"It's clear enough that you are hinting at foul play on the flimsiest
of evidence."

"Evidence, evidence! I want no surer evidence of your intent than poor
Bernard's wanderings; there's method, sir, even in delirium. If I
wished further proof, the fact that you too were in the canal that
night would suffice."

"Fevered maunderings and a coincidence!" Shelby laughed him in the
face, too contemptuous to set him