round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第11节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
from your guests so long。 But I won't be a moment now。〃
He wrote an abrupt note of a few lines。 Then with a sudden impulse
he tore it to shreds and flung it into the fireplace。
〃No； I can't sit down and tell her a lie； doctor；〃 he said rising。 〃We
must find some other way out of this。 I will think it over and let you
know my decision。 You must allow me to double your fee as I have
taken such an unconscionable time。 Now good…bye； and thank you a
thousand times for your sympathy and advice。〃
〃Why； dear me； you haven't even got your prescription yet。 This is
the mixture； and I should recommend one of these powders every morning；
and the chemist will put all directions upon the ointment box。 You are
38
… Page 39…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
placed in a cruel situation； but I trust that these may be but passing clouds。
When may I hope to hear from you again？〃
〃To…morrow morning。〃
〃Very good。 How the rain is splashing in the street！ You have your
waterproof there。 You will need it。 Good…bye； then； until to…morrow。〃
He opened the door。 A gust of cold； damp air swept into the hall。
And yet the doctor stood for a minute or more watching the lonely figure
which passed slowly through the yellow splotches of the gas lamps； and
into the broad bars of darkness between。 It was but his own shadow
which trailed up the wall as he passed the lights； and yet it looked to the
doctor's eye as though some huge and sombre figure walked by a
manikin's side and led him silently up the lonely street。
Dr。 Horace Selby heard again of his patient next morning； and rather
earlier than he had expected。 A paragraph in the Daily News caused him
to push away his breakfast untasted； and turned him sick and faint while
he read it。 〃A Deplorable Accident；〃 it was headed； and it ran in this
way：
〃A fatal accident of a peculiarly painful character is reported from
King William Street。 About eleven o'clock last night a young man was
observed while endeavouring to get out of the way of a hansom to slip and
fall under the wheels of a heavy； two…horse dray。 On being picked up his
injuries were found to be of the most shocking character； and he expired
while being conveyed to the hospital。 An examination of his pocketbook
and cardcase shows beyond any question that the deceased is none other
than Sir Francis Norton； of Deane Park； who has only within the last year
come into the baronetcy。 The accident is made the more deplorable as
the deceased； who was only just of age； was on the eve of being married to
a young lady belonging to one of the oldest families in the South。 With
his wealth and his talents the ball of fortune was at his feet； and his many
friends will be deeply grieved to know that his promising career has been
cut short in so sudden and tragic a fashion。〃
39
… Page 40…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
A FALSE START。
〃Is Dr。 Horace Wilkinson at home？〃
〃I am he。 Pray step in。〃
The visitor looked somewhat astonished at having the door opened to
him by the master of the house。
〃I wanted to have a few words。〃
The doctor； a pale； nervous young man； dressed in an ultra…
professional； long black frock…coat； with a high； white collar cutting off
his dapper side… whiskers in the centre； rubbed his hands together and
smiled。 In the thick； burly man in front of him he scented a patient； and
it would be his first。 His scanty resources had begun to run somewhat
low； and； although he had his first quarter's rent safely locked away in the
right…hand drawer of his desk； it was becoming a question with him how
he should meet the current expenses of his very simple housekeeping。
He bowed； therefore； waved his visitor in； closed the hall door in a
careless fashion； as though his own presence thereat had been a purely
accidental circumstance； and finally led the burly stranger into his scantily
furnished front room； where he motioned him to a seat。 Dr。 Wilkinson
planted himself behind his desk； and； placing his finger…tips together； he
gazed with some apprehension at his companion。 What was the matter
with the man？ He seemed very red in the face。 Some of his old
professors would have diagnosed his case by now； and would have
electrified the patient by describing his own symptoms before he had said
a word about them。 Dr。 Horace Wilkinson racked his brains for some
clue； but Nature had fashioned him as a ploddera very reliable plodder
and nothing more。 He could think of nothing save that the visitor's
watch…chain had a very brassy appearance； with a corollary to the effect
that he would be lucky if he got half…a…crown out of him。 Still； even half…
a…crown was something in those early days of struggle。
Whilst the doctor had been running his eyes over the stranger； the
latter had been plunging his hands into pocket after pocket of his heavy
coat。 The heat of the weather； his dress； and this exercise of pocket…
rummaging had all combined to still further redden his face； which had
40
… Page 41…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
changed from brick to beet； with a gloss of moisture on his brow。 This
extreme ruddiness brought a clue at last to the observant doctor。 Surely it
was not to be attained without alcohol。 In alcohol lay the secret of this
man's trouble。 Some little delicacy was needed； however； in showing
him that he had read his case arightthat at a glance he had penetrated to
the inmost sources of his ailments。
〃It's very hot；〃 observed the stranger； mopping his forehead。
〃Yes； it is weather which tempts one to drink rather more beer than is
good for one；〃 answered Dr。 Horace Wilkinson； looking very knowingly at
his companion from over his finger…tips。
〃Dear； dear； you shouldn't do that。〃
〃I！ I never touch beer。〃
〃Neither do I。 I've been an abstainer for twenty years。〃
This was depressing。 Dr。 Wilkinson blushed until he was nearly as
red as the other。 〃May I ask what I can do for you？〃 he asked； picking up
his stethoscope and tapping it gently against his thumb… nail。
〃Yes； I was just going to tell you。 I heard of your coming； but I
couldn't get round before〃 He broke into a nervous little cough。
〃Yes？〃 said the doctor encouragingly。
〃I should have been here three weeks ago； but you know how these
things get put off。〃 He coughed again behind his large red hand。
〃I do not think that you need say anything more；〃 said the doctor；
taking over the case with an easy air of command。 〃Your cough is quite
sufficient。 It is entirely bronchial by the sound。 No doubt the mischief
is circumscribed at present； but there is always the danger that it may
spread； so you have done wisely to come to me。 A little judicious
treatment will soon set you right。 Your waistcoat； please； but not your
shirt。 Puff out your chest and say ninety…nine in a deep voice。〃
The red…faced man began to laugh。 〃It's all right； doctor；〃 said he。
〃That cough comes from chewing tobacco； and I know it's a very bad habit。
Nine…and…ninepence is what I have to say to you； for I'm the officer of the
gas company； and they have a claim against you for that on the metre。〃
Dr。 Horace Wilkinson collapsed into his chair。 〃Then you're not a
patient？〃 he gasped。
41
… Page 42…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
〃Never needed a doctor in my life； sir。〃
〃Oh； that's all right。〃 The doctor concealed h
