"Doctor who?" I asked—the name was new to me.

"'Tain't Skill-apius," growled the boy behind, who seemed rather jealous that I had taken no notice of him. "It's Eee-skill-apius."

"Oh," said I, beginning to catch their drift. "Dr. Æsculapius. Is that what you are trying to say?"

"Yassir," said both boys. "Dass de man."

"Well, stop at his office a moment," said I. "I'm feeling a trifle ill."

In a few minutes we drew up before a large door to the right of the corridor before which there hung a shingle marked in large gilt letters:

ÆSCULAPIUS, M.D.
Office Hours: 10 to 12.
Tuesdays.

I knocked at the door and was promptly admitted.

"I wish to see the doctor," said I.