round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第13节
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at the doctor with eyes which were heavy with want of sleep and crusted
together at the lids。
〃Hum！ Yes。 Measles； sure enoughand a smart attack。〃
〃I just wanted you to see her； sir； so that you could signify。〃
〃Could what？〃
〃Signify； if anything happened。〃
〃Oh； I seecertify。〃
〃And now that you've seen it； sir； I'll go on； for Reubenthat's my
manis in a hurry。〃
〃But don't you want any medicine？〃
〃Oh； now you've seen it； it's all right。 I'll let you know if anything
happens。〃
〃But you must have some medicine。 The child is very ill。〃 He
descended into the little room which he had fitted as a surgery； and he
made up a two… ounce bottle of cooling medicine。 In such cities as
Sutton there are few patients who can afford to pay a fee to both doctor
and chemist； so that unless the physician is prepared to play the part of
both he will have little chance of making a living at either。
〃There is your medicine； madam。 You will find the directions upon
the bottle。 Keep the child warm and give it a light diet。〃
〃Thank you kindly； sir。〃 She shouldered her baby and marched for the
door。
〃Excuse me； madam；〃 said the doctor nervously。 〃Don't you think it
too small a matter to make a bill of？ Perhaps it would be better if we had
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a settlement at once。〃
The gypsy woman looked at him reproachfully out of her one
uncovered eye。
〃Are you going to charge me for that？〃 she asked。 〃How much；
then？〃
〃Well； say half…a…crown。〃 He mentioned the sum in a half…jesting
way； as though it were too small to take serious notice of； but the gypsy
woman raised quite a scream at the mention of it。
〃'Arf…a…crown！ for that？〃
〃Well； my good woman； why not go to the poor doctor if you cannot
afford a fee？〃
She fumbled in her pocket； craning awkwardly to keep her grip upon
the baby。
〃Here's sevenpence；〃 she said at last； holding out a little pile of copper
coins。 〃I'll give you that and a wicker footstool。〃
〃But my fee is half…a…crown。〃 The doctor's views of the glory of his
profession cried out against this wretched haggling； and yet what was he
to do？ 〃Where am I to get 'arf…a…crown？ It is well for gentlefolk like
you who sit in your grand houses； and can eat and drink what you like； an'
charge 'arf…a… crown for just saying as much as； ‘'Ow d'ye do？' We can't
pick up' arf…crowns like that。 What we gets we earns 'ard。 This
sevenpence is just all I've got。 You told me to feed the child light。 She
must feed light； for what she's to have is more than I know。〃
Whilst the woman had been speaking； Dr。 Horace Wilkinson's eyes
had wandered to the tiny heap of money upon the table； which represented
all that separated him from absolute starvation； and he chuckled to himself
at the grim joke that he should appear to this poor woman to be a being
living in the lap of luxury。 Then he picked up the odd coppers； leaving
only the two half…crowns upon the table。
〃Here you are；〃 he said brusquely。 〃Never mind the fee； and take
these coppers。 They may be of some use to you。 Good…bye！〃 He
bowed her out； and closed the door behind her。 After all she was the thin
edge of the wedge。 These wandering people have great powers of
recommendation。 All large practices have been built up from such
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foundations。 The hangers…on to the kitchen recommend to the kitchen；
they to the drawing…room； and so it spreads。 At least he could say now
that he had had a patient。
He went into the back room and lit the spirit… kettle to boil the water
for his tea； laughing the while at the recollection of his recent interview。
If all patients were like this one it could easily be reckoned how many it
would take to ruin him completely。 Putting aside the dirt upon his carpet
and the loss of time； there were twopence gone upon the bandage；
fourpence or more upon the medicine； to say nothing of phial； cork； label；
and paper。 Then he had given her fivepence； so that his first patient had
absorbed altogether not less than one sixth of his available capital。 If five
more were to come he would be a broken man。 He sat down upon the
portmanteau and shook with laughter at the thought； while he measured
out his one spoonful and a half of tea at one shilling eightpence into the
brown earthenware teapot。 Suddenly； however； the laugh faded from his
face； and he cocked his ear towards the door； standing listening with a
slanting head and a sidelong eye。 There had been a rasping of wheels
against the curb； the sound of steps outside； and then a loud peal at the bell。
With his teaspoon in his hand he peeped round the corner and saw with
amazement that a carriage and pair were waiting outside； and that a
powdered footman was standing at the door。 The spoon tinkled down
upon the floor； and he stood gazing in bewilderment。 Then； pulling
himself together； he threw open the door。
〃Young man；〃 said the flunky； 〃tell your master； Dr。 Wilkinson； that he
is wanted just as quick as ever he can come to Lady Millbank； at the
Towers。 He is to come this very instant。 We'd take him with us； but we
have to go back to see if Dr。 Mason is home yet。 Just you stir your
stumps and give him the message。〃
The footman nodded and was off in an instant； while the coachman
lashed his horses and the carriage flew down the street。
Here was a new development。 Dr。 Horace Wilkinson stood at his
door and tried to think it all out。 Lady Millbank； of the Towers！ People
of wealth and position； no doubt。 And a serious case； or why this haste
and summoning of two doctors？ But； then； why in the name of all that is
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wonderful should he be sent for？
He was obscure； unknown； without influence。 There must be some
mistake。 Yes； that must be the true explanation； or was it possible that
some one was attempting a cruel hoax upon him？ At any rate； it was too
positive a message to be disregarded。 He must set off at once and settle
the matter one way or the other。
But he had one source of information。 At the corner of the street was
a small shop where one of the oldest inhabitants dispensed newspapers
and gossip。 He could get information there if anywhere。 He put on his
well…brushed top hat； secreted instruments and bandages in all his pockets；
and without waiting for his tea closed up his establishment and started off
upon his adventure。
The stationer at the corner was a human directory to every one and
everything in Sutton； so that he soon had all the information which he
wanted。 Sir John Millbank was very well known in the town； it seemed。
He was a merchant prince； an exporter of pens； three times mayor； and
reported to be fully worth two millions sterling。
The Towers was his palatial seat； just outside the city。 His wife had
been an invalid for some years； and was growing worse。 So far the
whole thing seemed to be genuine enough。 By some amazing chance
these people really had sent for him。
And then another doubt assailed him； and he turned back into the shop。
〃I am your neighbour； Dr。 Horace Wilkinson；〃 said he。 〃Is there any
other medical man of that name in the town？〃
No； the stationer was quite positive that there was not。
That was final； then。 A great good fortune had come in his way； and
he must take prompt
