"Exactly," said Dr. Sevier. "Now you've developed a defect of the memory. Your few merchantable qualities have been so long out of the market, and you've suffered such humiliation under the pressure of adversity, that you've--you've done a very bad thing." "Say a dozen," responded Richling, with bitter humor. But the Doctor swung his head in resentment of the levity. "One's enough. You've allowed yourself to forget your true value." "I'm worth whatever I'll bring." The Doctor tossed his head in impatient disdain. "Pshaw! You'll never bring what you're worth any more than some men are worth what they bring. You don't know how. You never will know." "Well, Doctor, I do know that I'm worth more than I ever was before. I've learned a thousand things in the last twelvemonth. If I can only get a chance to prove it!" Richling turned red and struck his knee with his fist. "Oh, yes," said Dr. Sevier; "that's your sense, on top. And then you go--in a fit of the merest impatience, as I do suspect--and offer yourself as a deck-hand and as a carriage-driver. That's your folly, at the bottom. What ought to be done to such a man?" He gave a low, harsh laugh. Richling dropped his eyes. A silence followed. "You say all you want is a chance," resumed the Doctor. "Yes," quickly answered Richling, looking up. "I'm going to give it to you." They looked into each other's eyes. The Doctor nodded. "Yes, sir." He nodded again. "Where did you come from, Richling,--when you came to New Orleans,--you and your wife? Milwaukee?" "Yes." "Do your relatives know of your present condition?" "No." "Is your wife's mother comfortably situated?" "Yes." "Then I'll tell you what you must do." "The only thing I can't do," said Richling. "Yes, you can. You must. You must send Mrs. Richling back to her mother." Richling shook his head. "Well," said the Doctor, warmly, "I say you must. I will lend you the passage-money." Richling's eye kindled an instant at the Doctor's compulsory tone, but he said, gently:-- "Why, Doctor, Mary will never consent to leave me." "Of course she will not. But you must make her do it! That's what you must do. And when that's done then you must start out and go systematically from door to door,--of business houses, I mean,--offering yourself for work befitting your station--ahem!--station, I say--and qualifications. I will lend you money to live on until you find permanent employment. Now, now, don't get alarmed! I'm not going to help you any more than I absolutely must!" "But, Doctor, how can you expect"-- But the Doctor interrupted. "Come, now, none of that! You and your wife are brave; I must say that for you. She has the courage of a gladiator. You can do this if you will." "Doctor," said Richling, "you are the best of friends; but, you know, the fact is, Mary and I--well, we're still lovers." "Oh!" The Doctor turned away his head with fresh impatience. Richling bit his lip, but went on:--