"
"Is he really sick, doctor?" asked Christy, with a smile which meant
something.
"He says he is, and I have to take his word for it," replied the
surgeon, with a corresponding smile.
"I heard you tell the captain that you could not make out the nature of
his malady."
"I cannot so far, though that does not prove that he is not sick; but I
will venture to say he could not get his discharge from the navy on his
present symptoms. He may have drunk too much wine or whiskey recently,
though he certainly was not in liquor when he came on board."
"How is your patient, Dr. Connelly?" asked Captain Battleton, joining
them at this moment.
"About the same the last time I saw him. He ate all the toast I sent
to him, and seemed to enjoy it. I don't think he is in a dangerous
condition," replied the surgeon.
"I am glad to hear it. Have you informed him that we have another
lieutenant on board of the Vernon?" continued the commander.
"No, captain: I have not. That is not my affair, and I don't meddle with
what does not concern me."
"An excellent rule. Is he aware of the fact that there is another
Richmond in the field?"
"If he is, he has said nothing to me about the matter."
"Do you think he could go out into the cabin, doctor?" asked the
captain.
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