"I don't see as it would be any use," said the detective, "seeing he's been sent down, and so on. I'll write to the lawyer and state the facts, and wait for orders." "But do you know how slight the blame was that got him into trouble here?" "Yes. The 'aid' who saw the picture told me all about that. It was a shame. I'll say so. I'll give all the particulars. But I tell you, I just guess--they'll drop him." "I dare say," said Dr. Sevier. "Well, Doctor," said Mr. Izard, "hope I haven't annoyed you." "No," replied the Doctor. But he had; and the annoyance had not ceased to be felt when, a few mornings afterward, Narcisse suddenly doubled--trebled it by saying:-- "Doctah Seveeah,"--it was a cold day and the young Creole stood a moment with his back to the office fire, to which he had just given an energetic and prolonged poking,--"a man was yeh, to see you, name' Bison. 'F want' to see you about Mistoo Itchlin." The Doctor looked up with a start, and Narcisse continued:-- "Mistoo Itchlin is wuckin' in 'is employment. I think 'e's please' with 'im." "Then why does he come to see me about him?" asked the Doctor, so sharply that Narcisse shrugged as he replied:-- "Reely, I cann' tell you; but thass one thing, Doctah, I dunno if you 'ave notiz: the worl' halways take a gweat deal of welfa'e in a man w'en 'e's 'ising. I do that myseff. Some'ow I cann' 'e'p it." This bold speech was too much for him. He looked down at his symmetrical legs and went back to his desk. The Doctor was far from reassured. After a silence he called out:-- "Did he say he would come back?" A knock at the door arrested the answer, and a huge, wide, broad-faced German entered diffidently. The Doctor recognized Reisen. The visitor took off his flour-dusted hat and bowed with great deference. "Toc-tor," he softly drawled, "I yoost taught I trop in on you to say a verte to you apowt teh chung yentleman vot you hef rickomendet to me." "I didn't recommend him to you, sir. I wrote you distinctly that I did not feel at liberty to recommend him." "Tat iss teh troot, Toctor Tseweer; tat iss teh ectsectly troot. Shtill I taught I'll yoost trop in on you to say a verte to you,--Toctor,--apowt Mister"-- He hung his large head at one side to remember. "Richling," said the Doctor, impatiently. "Yes, sir. Apowt Mister Richlun. I heff a tifficuldy to rigolict naymps. I yoost taught I voot trop in und trop a verte to you apowt Mr. Richlun, vot maypy you titn't herr udt before, yet." "Yes," said the Doctor, with ill-concealed contempt. "Well, speak it out, Mr. Reisen; time is precious." The German smiled and made a silly gesture of assent. "Yes, udt is brecious. Shtill I taught I voot take enough time to yoost trop in undt say to you tat I heffent het Mr. Richlun in my etsteplitchmendt a veek undtil I finte owdt someting apowt him, tot, uf you het a-knowdt ud, voot hef mate your letter maypy a little tifferendt written, yet."