been no candidate who has made more noise than he in all the
disputations of our school. There he has rendered himself formidable,
and no debate passes but be goes and argues loudly and to the last
extreme on the opposite side. He is firm in dispute, strong as a Turk
in his principles, never changes his opinion, and pursues an argument
to the last recesses of logic. But, above all things, what pleases me
in him, and what I am glad to see him follow my example in, is that he
is blindly attached to the opinions of the ancients, and that he would
never understand nor listen to the reasons and the experiences of the
pretended discoveries of our century concerning the circulation of the
blood and other opinions of the same stamp. [Footnote: Harvey's
treatise on the circulation of the blood was published in 1628. His
discovery was violently opposed for a long time afterwards.]

T. DIA. (_pulling out of his pocket a long paper rolled up, and
presenting it to_ ANGELIQUE). I have upheld against these
circulators a thesis which, with the permission (_bowing to_
ARGAN) of this gentleman, I venture to present to the young lady as
the first-fruits of my genius.

ANG. Sir, it is a useless piece of furniture to me; I do not
understand these things.

TOI. (_taking the paper_). Never mind; give it all the same; the
picture will be of use, and we will adorn our attic with it.

T. DIA. (_again bowing to_ ANGELIQUE). With the permission of
this gentleman, I invite you to come one of these days to amuse
yourself by assisting at the dissection of a woman upon whose body I
am to give lectures.