THE APRIL FOOL. 113

 

“JT am happy to see you, doctor,” re-
turned L-—, bowing again.

“T yeceived a letter from your house,
this morning,” said the victim, for such he
really was, “desiring me to call, as you
had some communication to make that
would be to my advantage.”

“There's some mistake,” replied the
merchant. “No letter of the kind has ema-
nated from us.”

“Are you certain?” asked the disap-
pointed man, in a voice greatly changed ;
and he drew forth the letter he had re-
ceived.

L—— looked at the communication, and
shook his head.

“There is no truth in this, sir. I regret
to say that you have, most probably, been
made the victim of an idle and reprehen-
sible jest. To-day, you are aware, is the
First of April.”

“ Gan it be possible !” exclaimed the doc-
tor, clasping his hands together, while his
face became pale and overcast with disap-