tolerably good authority, too, Mr. Query."

"What authority?"

"Oh, I couldn't tell that: for you know I never like to make
mischief. I can only say that the _report_ is--he drinks."

Mr. Josiah Query scratched his head.

"Can it be that Dr. Harvey drinks?" he murmured. "I thought him pure
Son of Temperance. And his my family physician, too! I must look
into this matter forthwith. Mrs. Simmons, you still decline slating
who is your authority for this report?"

Mrs. Simmons was firm; her companion could gain no satisfaction. She
soon compelled him to promise that he would not mention her name, if
he spoke of the affair elsewhere, repeating her remark that she
never liked to make mischief.

Dr. Harvey was a physician residing in a small village, where he
shared the profits of practice with another doctor, named Jones. Dr.
Harvey was generally liked and among his friends was Mr. Josiah
Query, whom Mrs. Simmons shocked with the bit of gossip respecting
the doctor's habits of intemperance. Mr. Query was a good-hearted
man, and he deemed it his duty to inquire into the nature of the
report, and learn if it had any foundation in truth. Accordingly, be
went to Mr. Green, who also employed the doctor in his family.

"Mr. Green," said he, "have you heard anything about this report of
Dr. Harvey's intemperance?"