Read The Surgeon's Mate for Free Online

this morning, and whimsically enough I had been dreaming of Paris not half an hour before.' He passed the letter over.
    'They ask you to address the Institut de France -Lord, Stephen, I had no idea you were such a great man.
    They want you to tell them about the extinct avifauna of Rodriguez. What is an avifauna?'
    'Birds.'
    'What a pity you cannot go. You would have enjoyed it so. I suppose they took you for a neutral, or an American.'
    'Yet perhaps I shall go too. As you see, the date is well ahead, and if we can take a reasonably expeditious vessel, I believe I shall go. This is their second invitation, and the last time I regretted not being there extremely. It is perhaps the most flattering honour I have received, and I should meet some of the most interesting men in Europe. The Cuviers are sure to be there, and I have some remarks on the antarctic cetaceans that will amaze Frederic.'
    'But how can you possibly go? How can you possibly go to Paris in the middle of a war?'
    'Oh, as for that, with the proper consent and safe-conducts, there is no difficulty. Natural philosophy does not regard this war, or any other, with very close attention, and interchange is quite usual. Humphry Davy went and addressed them on his chloride of nitrogen, for example; and he was much caressed. But that is not what I meant to talk about.' He took up the second cover and laid it on the table before her, saying with some embarrassment, 'This is for pins.'
    'Pins, Stephen?' cried she, astonished.
    'I have always understood that women required a reasonable sum for pins.'
    'Stephen,' - laughing with pleasure - 'you are blushing. Upon my word and honour, you are absolutely blushing: I never thought to see you blush. No. It is infinitely kind of you, but you have been far too kind already. I have a hundred and twenty-five dollars, plenty for pins. Keep it, Stephen dear, and I promise I will tell you when I am quite penniless.'
    'Well,' said Stephen, taking up his third paper. 'Now here is a certificate for you, stating that although you are an enemy alien you may be admitted to Canadian soil and that you may remain upon it while of good behaviour.'
    'Oh, I shall behave quite beautifully,' she said, laughing again. 'But what nonsense it is, Stephen: I am on Canadian soil already. I have always thought papers and legal formalities great nonsense, but I have never seen such a simple one as this, During His Majesty's pleasure,' she read, 'and his poor dear old Majesty has not the least notion I am here. Oh, what stuff!'
    'No, but his servants have. I tell you in all sad sober earnest, Villiers, this is an important document. Without it you would have been taken away, Admiral or no Admiral. It is known that in law you are an American citizen, and as such you would ordinarily be placed under restraint: perhaps sent back again.'
    'Who cares for the law and quibbles of that kind? Anyone can tell'that I am perfectly English and always have been and always shall be. But tell me, how did you get it?'
    'Sure, I went to the proper quarters, to the officer that deals with things of this kind.'
    'It was so kind of you to think of it,' she said: then she cried, 'Oh, Stephen, I had quite forgot,' - and he could have sworn the thought passed from his head to hers - 'were they pleased with the papers you brought from Boston? I remember you told me they were for an army intelligence officer here. How I hope they were useful to him.'
    'Alas, it appears that they were more in the political than the military line. They are not without a certain value, I am told, but it seems that I could have chosen much better. I should not make much of an intelligence-agent, I am afraid.'
    'No,' said Diana, laughing. 'I cannot imagine anyone less suited for it. Not that you are not intelligent, dear Maturin,' she added with a kind look. 'In your way you are one of the most intelligent men I know, but you would be far happier among your birds. To think of you as a spy - oh, Lord!'