“That,” returned the Idiot, “is an assertion, Mr. Whitechoker, that is both true and untrue.  There are times when a physician is an ornament to a boarding-house; times when he is not.  For instance, on Wednesday morning if it had not been for the surgical skill of our friend here, our good landlady could never have managed properly to distribute the late autumn chicken we found upon the menu.  Tally one for the affirmative.  On the other hand, I must confess to considerable loss of appetite when I see the Doctor rolling his bread up into little pills, or measuring the vinegar he puts on his salad by means of a glass dropper, and taking the temperature of his coffee with his pocket thermometer.  Nor do I like—­and I should not have mentioned it save by way of illustrating my position in regard to Mr. Whitechoker’s assertion—­nor do I like the cold, eager glitter in the Doctor’s eyes as he watches me consuming, with some difficulty, I admit, the cold pastry we have served up to us on Saturday mornings under the wholly transparent alias of ‘Hot Bread.’  I may have very bad taste, but, in my humble opinion, the man who talks shop is preferable to the one who suggests it in his eyes.  Some more iced potatoes, Mary,” he added, calmly.

[Illustration:  “‘Reading Webster’s dictionary’”]

“Madame,” said the Doctor, turning angrily to the landlady, “this is insufferable.  You may make out my bill this morning.  I shall have to seek a home elsewhere.”

“Oh, now, Doctor!” began the landlady, in her most pleading tone.

“Jove!” ejaculated the Idiot.  “That’s a good idea, Doctor.  I think I’ll go with you; I’m not altogether satisfied here myself, but to desert so charming a company as we have here had never occurred to me.  Together, however, we can go forth, and perhaps find happiness.  Shall we put on our hunting togs and chase the fiery, untamed hall-room to the death this morning, or shall we put it off until some pleasanter day?”

“Put it off,” observed the School-master, persuasively.  “The Idiot was only indulging in persiflage, Doctor.  That’s all.  When you have known him longer you will understand him better.  Views are as necessary to him as sunlight to the flowers; and I truly think that in an asylum he would prove a delightful companion.”

“There, Doctor,” said the Idiot; “that’s handsome of the School-master.  He couldn’t make more of an apology if he tried.  I’ll forgive him if you will.  What say you?”

And strange to say, the Doctor, in spite of the indignation which still left a red tinge on his cheek, laughed aloud and was reconciled.

As for the School-master, he wanted to be angry, but he did not feel that he could afford his wrath, and for the first time in some months the guests went their several ways at peace with each other and the world.

III

There was a conspiracy in hand to embarrass the Idiot.  The School-master and the Bibliomaniac had combined forces to give him a taste of his own medicine.  The time had not yet arrived which showed the Idiot at a disadvantage; and the two boarders, the one proud of his learning, and the other not wholly unconscious of a bookish life, were distinctly tired of the triumphant manner in which the Idiot always left the breakfast-table to their invariable discomfiture.