"Vhy, vith the patients as has died in this here hepidemic," said he. "They must have brought grist to your mill, if Oi'm not mistook." "What epidemic?" I asked, feigning surprise. "I am a stranger in these parts, and know nothing of the epidemic." "Vhy, ye doan't mane to zay that ye never heard of th' epidemic as all th' vorld is a talking of," said he. "All the world!" I cried, in astonishment. "All your little village, I suppose you mean—no, I am entirely ignorant of this malady." "Vell then, doctor," said the boor, "if ye'd only set up in our village, there's a snug little business going on for the loikes of you." "Humph!" I grunted, not deigning to make other reply. "Yes, indeed, sir," said a man in the opposite corner of the coach, joining in the conversation, but more respectfully than my friend the farmer. "I assure you that a doctor's services are very much needed in these parts. They say the malady is spreading."The last speaker was a man I knew as well as I know my own face in a looking-glass, and whom I had served to innumerable pints of our home-brewed ale--a crony of mine, in fact, yet he failed to see through my disguise. "Dear me!" said I. "I hope it will be nothing very serious. I regret not being able to make myself useful, as I have several important cases to attend to a long distance off." "Oh, it has been very bad indeed, sir, hereabouts," said the same man. "Most cases have been fatal. The death that has been most talked of in the village is that of poor Jack Hearty, a lad of nineteen, as strong and as good looking a young fellow as any in the village. He was took bad, as it might be, yesterday, and struck down to-day in the very flower of his youth." "You don't say so?" said I. "Yes, sir," he resumed; "and I'll be bound to say you wouldn't find a finer young fellow in all England." "Really!" said I, inwardly feeling flattered. "Ah!" said another, with a sly wink. "I think I could tell you what hastened Jack's death as much as anything." "What was that?" I asked.
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