"Why, sir," said Jacques, "there is a very beautiful young lady in the immediate vicinity of town, who has smiled on Tom perhaps as many as three times; and would you believe it, sir, the infatuated youth thinks she is in love with him." "Ah! ah!" smiled the Doctor; "a mere youthful folly." "She cares not one pinch of snuff for him," said Jacques, "and he believes that she is dying for him." The Doctor smiled again. "Oh," he said, shaking his head, "I fear your charge of lunacy will not stand upon such ground as that. 'Tis a trifle." "I do not charge him with it," said Jacques generously; "Heaven forbid! I always endeavor to conceal it, and never allude to it in his presence. But I thought it my duty. You know, sir, there are a number of things which may be told to one's friends which should not be alluded to in their presence." "Yes, yes--of this description: it would be cruel; but you are certainly mistaken." "I hope so, sir; but I consider it my duty further to inform you that I fear Tom is following evil courses." "Evil courses?" "Yes, sir!" The door creaked terribly. "You pain me," said the Doctor; "to what do you allude?" "Ah, sir, it is terrible!" "How? But observe, I do not ask you to speak, sir. If it be your pleasure, very well, and I trust what I shall do will be for Thomas's good. But I do not invite your information." "It is my duty to tell, sir; and I must speak." With which words Jacques paused a moment, enjoying the dreadful suspense of the concealed gentleman, who seemed about to verify the proverb that listeners never hear any good of themselves. The closet groaned. "I refer to political courses," said Jacques, "and I have heard Tom speak repeatedly lately of going to Europe." "To Europe?" "Yes, sir; in his yacht, armed and prepared." "Prepared for what?" "That I don't know, sir; but you may judge yourself. It seems to me that the arms on board his yacht, the 'Rebecca,' might very well be used to murder his most gracious Majesty George III., or the great Grenville Townsend, or other friends of constitutional liberty." The Doctor absolutely laughed. "Why, you are too suspicious," he said, "and I cannot believe Thomas is so bad. He has adopted many of the new ideas, and may go great lengths; but assassination--that is too absurd. Excuse my plain speaking," said the worthy Doctor, rising; "and pardon my leaving you, my young friend. I have some calls to make, and especially to go and see the young gentlemen who came near fighting a duel yesterday. What a terribly wild set of youths! Ah! they give me much trouble, and cause me a great deal of anxiety! Well, sir, good day. I am sorry I did not see Thomas; please say that I called to speak with him--he is wrong to hold out against the authorities thus. Good day--good day!" And the worthy Doctor, who had uttered these sentences while he was putting on his hat and grasping his stick, issued from the door and descended.