"Well, Doctor," said Mr. Izard, "hope I haven't annoyed you."
But he had; and the annoyance had not ceased to be felt when, a few mornings afterward, Narcisse suddenly doubled--trebled it by saying:--
"Doctah Seveeah,"--it was a cold day and the young Creole stood a moment with his back to the office fire, to which he had just given an energetic and prolonged poking,--"a man was yeh, to see you, name' Bison. 'F want' to see you about Mistoo Itchlin."
The Doctor looked up with a start, and Narcisse continued:--
"Mistoo Itchlin is wuckin' in 'is employment. I think 'e's please' with 'im."
"Then why does he come to see me about him?" asked the Doctor, so sharply that Narcisse shrugged as he replied:--
"Reely, I cann' tell you; but thass one thing, Doctah, I dunno if you 'ave notiz: the worl' halways take a gweat deal of welfa'e in a man w'en 'e's 'ising. I do that myseff. Some'ow I cann' 'e'p it." This bold speech was too much for him. He looked down at his symmetrical legs and went back to his desk.
The Doctor was far from reassured. After a silence he called out:--
"Did he say he would come back?" A knock at the door arrested the answer, and a huge, wide, broad-faced German entered diffidently. The Doctor recognized Reisen. The visitor took off his flour-dusted hat and bowed with great deference.
"Toc-tor," he softly drawled, "I yoost taught I trop in on you to say a verte to you apowt teh chung yentleman vot you hef rickomendet to me."
"I didn't recommend him to you, sir. I wrote you distinctly that I did not feel at liberty to recommend him."
"Tat iss teh troot, Toctor Tseweer; tat iss teh ectsectly troot. Shtill I taught I'll yoost trop in on you to say a verte to you,--Toctor,--apowt Mister"-- He hung his large head at one side to remember.
"Richling," said the Doctor, impatiently.
"Yes, sir. Apowt Mister Richlun. I heff a tifficuldy to rigolict naymps. I yoost taught I voot trop in und trop a verte to you apowt Mr. Richlun, vot maypy you titn't herr udt before, yet."
"Yes," said the Doctor, with ill-concealed contempt. "Well, speak it out, Mr. Reisen; time is precious."
The German smiled and made a silly gesture of assent.
"Yes, udt is brecious. Shtill I taught I voot take enough time to yoost trop in undt say to you tat I heffent het Mr. Richlun in my etsteplitchmendt a veek undtil I finte owdt someting apowt him, tot, uf you het a-knowdt ud, voot hef mate your letter maypy a little tifferendt written, yet."