"What is your name?" enquired the other.
"Oliver Conrad."
"How came you with my father?"
Oliver told the story briefly.
"I am very much mortified at the imposition that has been practised upon you, and alarmed at the thought of what might havehappened but for my accidental presence at home. Of course you can see for yourself that my father is insane."
"Yes, sir, I can see it now; but I did not suspect it when we first met."
"I suppose not. In fact, he is not generally insane. He is rather a monomaniac."
"It seems a dangerous kind of monomania."
"You are right; it is. Unless I can control him at home, I must send him back to the hospital. He has been an eminent physician, and until two years ago was in active practice. His delusion is connected with his profession, and is therefore less likely to be cured. I am surprised that you accepted a stranger's invitation to dine."
"I will tell you frankly, sir," said Oliver, "that I am out of employment, and have but forty cents in the world. You could hardly expect me to decline a dinner at Delmonico's under the circumstances."