"Dr. Harvey's intemperance?" cried Mr. Green, astonished.

"Yes--a flying report."

"No, I'm sure I haven't."

"Of course, then, you don't know whether it is true or not?"

"What?"

"That he drinks."

"I never heard of it before. Dr. Harvey is my family physician, and
I certainly would not employ a man addicted to the use of ardent
spirits."

"Nor I," said Mr. Query "and for this reason, and for the doctor's
sake, too, I want to know the truth of the matter. I don't really
credit it myself; but I thought it would do no harm to inquire."

Mr. Query next applied to Squire Worthy for information.

"Dear me!" exclaimed the squire, who was a nervous man; "does Dr.
Harvey drink?"

"Such is the rumour; how true it is, I can't say."

"And what if he should give one of my family a dose of arsenic
instead of the tincture of rhubarb, some time, when he is