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Bart was graduated from medical college at the beginning of the summer of 1883. Philo attended, but, to Bart's disappointment, Beth did not appear.
Earlier in the year, the Empress Eugénie had changed to a new home at Farnborough Hill in Hampshire. As expected, Beth moved with her. She had scarcely communicated with Bart since then.
Following the graduation ceremony, Philo invited Bart into the charming Old Town section of Edinburgh for a celebratory drink.
"Congratulations, son," Philo toasted with a bottle of hearty stout. "This is a great day when dreams have come to fruition. This is a day that belongs to your father, Doctor Will, and to your dear mother, Roma, and to our Old Annie, and, yes, also to my wife, Nelle. Let's drink to those whose love has, in one way or another, put you here today."
They drank.
"Let me add to that," Bart said, "my brother Ardie whose dedication to Duncan Cargo has allowed me the freedom to devote myself to a medical career."
They drank again.
"And let me not forget," Bart continued, "the greatest mentor of all. 'Tis you, my dear Cap'n. Without Master Angel Hair there would be no Doctor Bart! Period."
They drained their bottles.
"Now, Doctor Bart, what are your future plans?"
"Well, sir, I have to serve an internship in practical medicine or research somewhere before I can earn full credentials. I'd thought about going back to the States. I really don't know."
Philo sat back in his chair.
"I'm glad you haven't made up your mind," he said. "Have you ever heard of Doctor Louis Pasteur?"
Bart emitted an incredulous moan. "Why, I'd have to live on the moon not to have heard of Pasteur! His germ theory of infection may be the greatest contribution to medical knowledge ever made! Even without that, his discovery of the anti-cholera and anthrax vaccines would earn him an unparalleled place in medical history. I haven't even mentioned the pasteurization of milk or the rabies vaccine I hear he's working on....."
"Don't bother!" Philo laughed. "How would you like to intern with him?"
"With him?" Bart choked, tipping back in his chair. "With Louis Pasteur? Me?"
"You've kept up your French from Harvard days by consorting with the Empress Eugénie and the Empress Elizabeth, not to speak of Beth, n'est ce pas?" Philo said.
"Y-y-y-yes," stammered Bart, tipping back farther in his chair.
"And you'd like to live in Paris with me, wouldn't you? With my housekeeper, Adrienne André, to cook your meals? You will have to make your own bed, of course, as we all do in my house, and if you need someone to show you around, Beth can do that. She occupies the room below yours."
There was a clatter as Bart's chair tipped over backward.
"Beth?" he gasped from his supine position on the floor. "Beth? With you?"
"Since her twenty-second birthday last March," Philo grinned. "Her birthday gift from the Empress was permission to go. I understand that Eugénie felt the time had come for Beth's world to change. She suggested a new start. She told her to leave the mausoleum and to step back into life, through the looking-glass, as it were. Beth's birthday gift from me was the opportunity to study at the Beaux Arts in Paris. She's quite an artist."
Bart jumped up and seated himself again.
"And Doctor Pasteur?" he asked.
Philo grinned. "He has plans to build an institute for project research. He's looking for bright young men like you to join him. Oh, yes, he asked me to bring back a fellow whom you may know. This young man submitted a splendid paper on the subject of silkworm disease for Doctor Pasteur's opinion - an Asian named Dash."
"Dash?" Bart exclaimed. "My best friend, Dash Lyn? Oh, how grand, sir! He will be as thrilled as I. Thank you, Cap'n. Thank you so much."
Tears of gratitude rolled down Bart's cheeks.
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