"In the College itself, Suffragan," he said, "and in the House, things are mighty dull and quiet. Blessed if a little Discontent or a Mutiny, or something, wouldn't be worth having, just to shake up the lot. There's not even a grumbler left. A little rising and a few heads broken, and we should settle down again, quiet and contented again." "Don't talk like a fool, John." "Well, Suffragan, you like to hear all that goes on. I wonder what you'll say to what I'm going to tell you now?" "Go on, John. What is it?" "It's irregular, Suffragan, but your Honor is above the Law; and, before beginning a long story--mind you, a most important story it is--" "What is it about? Who's in it?" "Lots of the People are in it. They don't count. He's in it now--come!" "He?" John Lax had pointed over his shoulder so clearly in the direction of the Arch Physician's residence that I could not but understand. Yet I pretended. "He, John? Who is he?" "The Arch Physician is in it. There! Now, Suffragan, bring out that bottle and a glass, and I can then tell you the story, without fear of ill consequences to my throat that was once delicate." I gave him the bottle and a glass, and, after drinking a tumblerful of whiskey (forbidden to the People) he began. Certain reasons, he said, had made him suspicious as to what went on at night in the Museum during the last few weeks. The lights were up until late at night. Once he tried the doors, and found that they were locked. He heard the playing of music within, and the sound of many voices. Now, there is, as I told John Lax at this point, no law against the assemblage of the People, nor against their sitting up, or singing and playing together. I had, to be sure, hoped that they had long ceased to desire to meet together, and had quite forgotten how to make music. He remembered, John Lax went on to say, that there was a door leading into the Picture Gallery from the College Garden--a door of which he held the key. He opened this door quietly, and then, night after night, he crept into the Picture Gallery, and watched what went on through the door, which opened upon the Museum. He had found, in fact, a place close by the door, where, hidden behind a group of statuary, he could watch and listen in almost perfect security. I then heard, to my amazement, how a small company of the People were every night carrying on a revival of the Past; not with the laudable intention of disgusting themselves with the horrors of that time, but exactly the contrary. It was only the pleasant side of that time--the evening life of the rich and careless--which these foolish persons reproduced.