“Oh, I am not at liberty to say that.”

“Then I shall hold you responsible for the scandal—­for the base lies you have circulated.  But if you are really an honest man, and my friend, you will not hesitate to tell me where this report originated.”

After some reflection, Mr. Query, who stood in mortal fear of the indignant doctor, resolved to reveal the secret, and mentioned the name of his informant, Mrs. Simmons.  As Dr. Harvey had not heard her spoken of before, as connected with the report of his intemperance, he knew very well that Mr. Query’s “friendly investigations” had been the sole cause of his loss of practice.  However, to go to the roots of this Upas tree of scandal, he resolved to pay an immediate visit to Mrs. Simmons.

This lady could deny nothing; but she declared that she had not given the rumour as a fact, and that she had never spoken of it except to Mr. Query.  Anxious to throw the responsibility of the slander upon others, she eagerly confessed that, on a certain occasion upon entering a room in which were Mrs. Guild and Mrs. Harmless, she overheard one of these ladies remark that “Dr. Harvey drank more than ever,” and the other reply, that “she had heard him say he could not break himself, although he knew his health suffered in consequence.”

Thus set upon the right track, Dr. Harvey visited Mrs. Guild and Mrs. Harmless without delay.

“Mercy on us!” exclaimed those ladies, when questioned respecting the matter, “we perfectly remember talking about your drinking coffee, and making such remarks as you have heard through Mrs. Simmons.  But with regard to your drinking liquor, we never heard the report until a week ago, and never believed it at all.”

As what these ladies had said of his coffee-drinking propensities was perfectly true, Dr. Harvey readily acquitted them of any designs against his character for sobriety, and well satisfied with having at last discovered the origin of the rumour, returned to the friendly Mr. Query.

The humiliation of this gentleman was so deep, that Dr. Harvey avoided reproaches, and confined himself to a simple narrative of his discoveries.

“I see, it is all my fault,” said Mr. Query.  “And I will do anything to remedy it.  I never could believe you drank—­and now I’ll go and tell everybody that the report was false.”

“Oh! bless you,” cried the doctor, “I wouldn’t have you do so for the world.  All I ask of you, is to say nothing whatever on the subject, and if you ever again hear a report of the kind, don’t make it a subject of friendly investigation.”

Mr. Query promised; and, after the truth was known, and, Dr. Harvey had regained the good-will of the community, together with his share of medical practice, he never had reason again to exclaim—­“Save me from my friends!” And Mr. Query was in future exceedingly careful how he attempted to make friendly investigations.