"Because you are so young and vigorous. You are in the full flush of health."
Now this is a very pleasant assurance in ordinary cases, but under the circumstances Oliver did not enjoy the compliment. A thought struck him.
"You are mistaken," he said. "I am not as well as I look. I have—heart disease."
"I can hardly believe it," said the old man. "Heart disease does not go with such a physique."
"I've got it," said Oliver. "If you want a perfectly healthy subject, you must apply to someone else."
"I will test it," said the old man, approaching. "If you really are subject to disease of the heart, you will not answer my purpose."
"Put down that knife, then," said Oliver.
The doctor put it down. Oliver shuddered while the relentless devotee of science placed his hand over his heart, and waited anxiously his decision.
It came.
"You are mistaken, my young friend," he said. "The movement of your heart is slightly accelerated, but it is in a perfectly healthy state."