You have, of course, heard that we are ordered abroad; mere newspaper report for the present; nevertheless, it is extremely difficult--almost impossible, without a sick certificate, to obtain a leave sufficiently long for your purpose." And here he smirked, and I blushed, selon les regles..
"A sick certificate," said I in some surprise.
"The only thing for you," said Fitzgerald, taking a long pinch of snuff; "and I grieve to say you have a most villainous look of good health about you." "I must acknowledge I have seldom felt better." "So much the worse--so much the worse," said Fitzgerald despondingly.
"Is there no family complaint; no respectable heir-loom of infirmity, you can lay claim to from your kindred ?" "None, that I know of, unless a very active performance on the several occasions of breakfast, dinner, and supper, with a tendency towards port, and an inclination to sleep ten in every twenty-four hours, be a sign of sickness; these symptoms I have known many of the family suffer for years, without the slightest alleviation, though, strange as it may appear, they occasionally had medical advice." Fitz.

took no notice of my sneer at the faculty, but proceeded to strike my chest several times, with his finger tips.

"Try a short cough now," said he.

"Ah, that will never do!" "Do you ever flush.

Before dinner I mean ?" "Occasionally, when I meet with a luncheon." "I'm fairly puzzled," said poor Fitz.