“I suppose they would not, but I was afraid of them. Miss Hungerford’s organization is exceedingly delicate, as I have had occasion to know when administering medicines to her.” “But you said, yesterday, that you would not object to taking the bottle full yourself, thereby intimating that there is no virtue whatever in them.” “For a strong man, like you or me, no doubt they would be harmless.” “Suppose you try them,” suggested Dick. “Of course I should not object to taking them,” laughed Dr. Lynch, with one of his ghastly smiles. “Oblige me by doing so.” “Thank you; I have no occasion to take them.” “You think they are harmless?” “Certainly I do; but I may be mistaken. I was quite unwilling to have Julia take them, without being sure what they were, and how much medicinal virtue there might be in them. For this reason I wished to analyze them.” “Won’t you oblige me by taking those?” said Dick, pouring out half a dozen of the globules into the palm of his hand. “Excuse me, Mr. Birch; I would rather not.” “I only wish to know whether you believe what you say.” “In regard to what I said, I may have been mistaken. After the miraculous cure they wrought upon you, I must conclude that I was mistaken.” “Won’t you indulge an old friend so far as to take these half dozen harmless pellets?” continued Dick, in the most insinuating tone. “I really cannot do so, Mr. Birch. I am opposed to homœopathy on principle. I will not countenance the humbug in any way, shape, or fashion,” replied the doctor, eloquently. “Do you think they would harm me?” “You know best. You have taken enough of them to know what virtue they contain.” “Are you willing I should take them in your office?” “Am I willing? Of course I am. You are your own physician. I am not responsible for their effect upon you.” “Should you advise me to take them?” “To be consistent with my own belief, I should advise you not to take them; but you are not under my medical treatment.” “Do you think they will harm me?” “I advise you not to take them. Have you the headache?” “No; but I merely wish to prove, in defence of homœopathy, that they are harmless,” replied Dick, as he tossed the six globules into his mouth. The doctor started. He looked troubled for a moment, though he struggled to maintain his self-possession. He believed the globules were pure strychnia. They were of the smallest size; but there was poison enough in them to kill a man in a few hours. Dick knew they were nothing but sugar of milk, with an infinitesimal mixture of belladonna. Dr. Lynch was agitated. Dick Birch was calm. “Having taken half a dozen myself, to make sure they are harmless, I will go home and cure Julia’s headache with half a dozen more,” added Dick. “Don’t give them to her,” protested the doctor. “Why not?” “Don’t give them to her.” “Why not?” “My patients must not be trifled with!” exclaimed the doctor, almost frantic at the idea of Julia’s taking the poison.