"Myself, I should like to assist you, papa,
if I could."
"A-bah!" said the pleased father, incredulously.
"But, yes," said the son.
A thrill of delight filled the General's frame. _This_ was like a son.
"Thank you, my son! I thank you much. Ah, Mossy, my dear boy, you make
me happy!"
"But," added Mossy, realizing with a tremor how far he had gone, "I see
not how it is possible."
The General's chin dropped.
"Not being a public man," continued the Doctor; "unless, indeed, my
pen--you might enlist my pen."
He paused with a smile of bashful inquiry. The General stood aghast for
a moment, and then caught the idea.
"Certainly! cer-tain-ly! ha, ha, ha!"--backing out of the
door--"certainly! Ah! Mossy, you are right, to be sure; to make a
complete world we must have swords _and_ pens. Well, my son, '_au
revoir;_' no, I cannot stay--I will return. I hasten to tell my friends
that the pen of Dr. Mossy is on our side! Adieu, dear son."
Standing outside on the _banquette_ he bowed--not to Dr.
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