round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第8节
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Proosians a…comin' up on our left flank。 Jimini； but it was a glad sight to
see the smoke of their guns！〃
〃And what was it that struck you most now in connection with the
whole affair？〃 asked the colonel。
〃I lost three half…crowns over it； I did；〃 crooned old Brewster。 〃I
shouldn't wonder if I was never to get that money now。 I lent 'em to
Jabez Smith； my rear rank man； in Brussels。 ‘Only till pay…day； Grig；'
says he。 By Gosh！ he was stuck by a lancer at Quatre Bras； and me with
not so much as a slip o' paper to prove the debt！ Them three half… crowns
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is as good as lost to me。〃
The colonel rose from his chair laughing。 〃The officers of the Guards
want you to buy yourself some little trifle which may add to your
comfort；〃 he said。 〃It is not from me； so you need not thank me。〃 He
took up the old man's tobacco pouch and slipped a crisp banknote inside it。
〃Thank ye kindly； sir。 But there's one favour that I would like to ask
you； colonel。〃
〃Yes； my man。〃
〃If I'm called； colonel； you won't grudge me a flag and a firing party？
I'm not a civilian； I'm a guardsmanI'm the last of the old Third Guards。〃
〃All right； my man； I'll see to it；〃 said the colonel。 〃Good…bye； I hope
to have nothing but good news from you。〃
〃A kind gentleman； Norah；〃 croaked old Brewster； as they saw him
walk past the window； 〃but； Lordy； he ain't fit to hold the stirrup o' my
Colonel Byng！〃
It was on the very next day that the old corporal took a sudden change
for the worse。 Even the golden sunlight streaming through the window
seemed unable to warm that withered frame。 The doctor came and shook
his head in silence。 All day the man lay with only his puffing blue lips
and the twitching of his scraggy neck to show that he still held the breath
of life。 Norah and Sergeant Macdonald had sat by him in the afternoon；
but he had shown no consciousness of their presence。 He lay peacefully；
his eyes half closed； his hands under his cheek； as one who is very weary。
They had left him for an instant and were sitting in the front room；
where Norah was preparing tea； when of a sudden they heard a shout that
rang through the house。 Loud and clear and swelling； it pealed in their
earsa voice full of strength and energy and fiery passion。 〃The Guards
need powder！〃 it cried； and yet again； 〃The Guards need powder！〃
The sergeant sprang from his chair and rushed in； followed by the
trembling Norah。 There was the old man standing up； his blue eyes
sparkling； his white hair bristling； his whole figure towering and
expanding； with eagle head and glance of fire。 〃The Guards need
powder！〃 he thundered once again； 〃and； by God； they shall have it！〃 He
threw up his long arms； and sank back with a groan into his chair。 The
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sergeant stooped over him； and his face darkened。
〃Oh； Archie； Archie；〃 sobbed the frightened girl； 〃what do you think of
him？〃
The sergeant turned away。 〃I think；〃 said he； 〃that the Third Guards
have a full muster now。〃
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THE THIRD GENERATION。
Scudamore Lane； sloping down riverwards from just behind the
Monument； lies at night in the shadow of two black and monstrous walls
which loom high above the glimmer of the scattered gas lamps。 The
footpaths are narrow； and the causeway is paved with rounded
cobblestones； so that the endless drays roar along it like breaking waves。
A few old…fashioned houses lie scattered among the business premises；
and in one of these； half…way down on the left…hand side； Dr。 Horace Selby
conducts his large practice。 It is a singular street for so big a man； but a
specialist who has an European reputation can afford to live where he likes。
In his particular branch； too； patients do not always regard seclusion as a
disadvantage。
It was only ten o'clock。 The dull roar of the traffic which converged
all day upon London Bridge had died away now to a mere confused
murmur。 It was raining heavily； and the gas shone dimly through the
streaked and dripping glass； throwing little circles upon the glistening
cobblestones。 The air was full of the sounds of the rain； the thin swish of
its fall； the heavier drip from the eaves； and the swirl and gurgle down the
two steep gutters and through the sewer grating。 There was only one
figure in the whole length of Scudamore Lane。 It was that of a man； and
it stood outside the door of Dr。 Horace Selby。
He had just rung and was waiting for an answer。 The fanlight beat
full upon the gleaming shoulders of his waterproof and upon his upturned
features。 It was a wan； sensitive； clear…cut face； with some subtle；
nameless peculiarity in its expression； something of the startled horse in
the white…rimmed eye； something too of the helpless child in the drawn
cheek and the weakening of the lower lip。 The man… servant knew the
stranger as a patient at a bare glance at those frightened eyes。 Such a
look had been seen at that door many times before。
〃Is the doctor in？〃
The man hesitated。
〃He has had a few friends to dinner； sir。 He does not like to be
disturbed outside his usual hours； sir。〃
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〃Tell him that I MUST see him。 Tell him that it is of the very first
importance。 Here is my card。〃 He fumbled with his trembling fingers
in trying to draw one from his case。 〃Sir Francis Norton is the name。
Tell him that Sir Francis Norton； of Deane Park； must see him without
delay。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃 The butler closed his fingers upon the card and the half…
sovereign which accompanied it。 〃Better hang your coat up here in the
hall。 It is very wet。 Now if you will wait here in the consulting…room； I
have no doubt that I shall be able to send the doctor in to you。〃
It was a large and lofty room in which the young baronet found
himself。 The carpet was so soft and thick that his feet made no sound as
he walked across it。 The two gas jets were turned only half…way up； and
the dim light with the faint aromatic smell which filled the air had a
vaguely religious suggestion。 He sat down in a shining leather armchair
by the smouldering fire and looked gloomily about him。 Two sides of the
room were taken up with books； fat and sombre； with broad gold lettering
upon their backs。 Beside him was the high； old…fashioned mantelpiece of
white marblethe top of it strewed with cotton wadding and bandages；
graduated measures； and little bottles。 There was one with a broad neck
just above him containing bluestone； and another narrower one with what
looked like the ruins of a broken pipestem and 〃Caustic〃 outside upon a
red label。 Thermometers； hypodermic syringes bistouries and spatulas
were scattered about both on the mantelpiece and on the central table on
either side of the sloping desk。 On the same table； to the right； stood
copies of the five books which Dr。 Horace Selby had written upon the
subject with which his name is peculiarly associated； while on the left； on
the top of a red medical directory； lay a huge glass model of a human eye
the size of a turnip； which opened down the centre to expose the lens and
double chamber within。
Sir Francis Norton had never been remarkable for his powers of
observation； and yet he found himself watching these trifle
