"Lecture?" said he. "You are not John Kendrick—"
"Yes—I am," said I.
"Oh," said he, "that's different. You are our engagement. Come up to my office, and I'll fix you up in a jiffy."
So we marched five long blocks up to his office, where I was soon stretched out, and the desired operation put through with neatness and despatch.
"Well, doctor," said I as he held the offending molar up before me tightly gripped in his forceps, "you have given me the first moment of relief I have had all day. My debt in gratitude I shall never be able to repay, but the other I think I can handle. How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing at all, Mr. Bangs," he replied. "Nothing at all."
"Oh, that's nonsense, doctor," I retorted. "You are a professional man, and I am a stranger to you—you must charge something."
"Oh, no, Mr. Bangs," said he, smilingly. "You are no stranger to me. I have been reading your books for the past twenty years, and it's a positive pleasure to pull your teeth."