"Your friends who have used your name should help you as much as they can, papa," said the Doctor. "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."