containing money. It was stamped all over with the cheapest kind of
sealing-wax, and, on opening the envelope, I was surprised to find a
letter from my Uncle Dion, with an old, crumpled hundred-florin bill, of
a kind that had long gone out of circulation, and which showed every
mark of having issued from one of the hollow reeds. The letter ran about
as follows:--

"MY DEAR NEPHEW, DR. DUMANY,--Knowing well that physicians will not
move a step without being well paid, I send you the enclosed
bank-bill, and pray you to take the trouble to visit me for a few
days here in my house.

"DUMANY DION."

I took the bank-bill, put it into a fresh envelope, and wrote the
following lines:--

"MY DEAR UNCLE,--One hundred florins will not induce me to leave my
patients, and so I return the bill; but if you are really in need
of a physician, and want me in that capacity, then please let me
know, without enclosing money, for I should consider it my duty as
a near blood-relation to give you my professional assistance
without delay.--Yours,

"DUMANY KORNEL."

By return of post came the answer--"Yes, I want you immediately."

I went at once. It was ten years since I had seen him last. He was
eighty-seven then; he must be ninety-seven now. A rare age, indeed!