Well, just about that time, the friend who had gone to Europe came back.

He'd done well abroad, and-was qualified for a high position at home.

He was engaged to marry a stylish, aristocratic girl, who was not, however, wealthy.

But he seemed very glad to see the doctor, and the doctor certainly was to see him, and invited him to stay at his house a while, and he introduced him into the house of his intended wife." Here the professor broke off from his story, and, getting up from his chair, he passed two or three times up and down the room; stopping at the window to pull a leaf from the extended branch of a cherry-tree growing outside, and again, by the empty fireplace, to roll the leaf up between his finger and thumb, and throw it upon the hearth.

When he returned to the bedside, he dropped himself into his chair with the slow, inelastic heaviness of age.
"The fellow played him a scurvy trick," resumed he, presently.