“When do you intend to send me your Pliny?” he asked, with a wicked gleam in his eye.  “Certainly you can no longer think that Erik is of Irish origin?”

The doctor was thunder-struck for a moment by this speech, but he soon recovered himself.

“Bah! an ex-president of the French Republic was a direct descendant of one of the Irish kings,” he said, seriously.  “I should not be at all surprised if Mr. Durrien belongs to the same family!”

“Evidently,” replied Mr. Bredejord.  “In fact it is so extremely probable that out of sport I will send you my Quintilian!”

THE END.