when god laughs and other stories(当上帝发笑时)-第28节
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patient。 He； the Doctor； had performed a prodigy in the matter of this
man； done what was virtually unprecedented in the annals of surgery。 He
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WHEN GOD LAUGHS； AND OTHER STORIES
did not care who or what the man was； and it was highly improbable that
he should ever see him again； but； like the artist gazing upon a finished
creation； he wished to look for the last time upon the work of his hand and
brain。
Semper Idem still remained mute。 He seemed anxious to be gone。
Not a word could the Doctor extract from him； and little the Doctor cared。
He examined the throat of the convalescent carefully； idling over the
hideous scar with the lingering； half…caressing fondness of a parent。 It
was not a particularly pleasing sight。 An angry line circled the throatfor
all the world as though the man had just escaped the hangman's noose
and； disappearing below the ear on either side； had the appearance of
completing the fiery periphery at the nape of the neck。
Maintaining his dogged silence； yielding to the other's examination in
much the manner of a leashed lion； Semper Idem betrayed only his desire
to drop from out of the public eye。
〃Well； I'll not keep you；〃 Doctor Bicknell finally said； laying a hand on
the man's shoulder and stealing a last glance at his own handiwork。 〃But
let me give you a bit of advice。 Next time you try it on； hold your chin
up； so。 Don't snuggle it down and butcher yourself like a cow。
Neatness and despatch； you know。 Neatness and despatch。〃
Semper Idem's eyes flashed in token that he heard； and a moment later
the hospital door swung to on his heel。
It was a busy day for Doctor Bicknell； and the afternoon was well
along when he lighted a cigar preparatory to leaving the table upon which
it seemed the sufferers almost clamoured to be laid。 But the last one； an
old rag…picker with a broken shoulder…blade； had been disposed of； and the
first fragrant smoke wreaths had begun to curl about his head； when the
gong of a hurrying ambulance came through the open window from the
street； followed by the inevitable entry of the stretcher with its ghastly
freight。
〃Lay it on the table；〃 the Doctor directed； turning for a moment to
place his cigar in safety。 〃What is it？〃
〃Suicidethroat cut；〃 responded one of the stretcher bearers。 〃Down
on Morgan Alley。 Little hope； I think； sir。 He's 'most gone。〃
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WHEN GOD LAUGHS； AND OTHER STORIES
〃Eh？ Well； I'll give him a look； anyway。〃 He leaned over the man
at the moment when the quick made its last faint flutter and succumbed。
〃It's Semper Idem come back again；〃 the steward said。
〃Ay；〃 replied Doctor Bicknell； 〃and gone again。 No bungling this
time。 Properly done； upon my life； sir； properly done。 Took my advice to
the letter。 I'm not required here。 Take it along to the morgue。〃
Doctor Bicknell secured his cigar and relighted it。 〃That；〃 he said
between the puffs； looking at the steward； 〃that evens up for the one you
lost last night。 We're quits now。〃
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WHEN GOD LAUGHS； AND OTHER STORIES
A NOSE FOR THE KING
In the morning calm of Korea； when its peace and tranquillity truly
merited its ancient name； 〃Cho…sen；〃 there lived a politician by name Yi
Chin Ho。 He was a man of parts； andwho shall say？perhaps in no wise
worse than politicians the world over。 But； unlike his brethren in other
lands； Yi Chin Ho was in jail。 Not that he had inadvertently diverted to
himself public moneys； but that he had inadvertently diverted too much。
Excess is to be deplored in all things； even in grafting； and Yi Chin Ho's
excess had brought him to most deplorable straits。
Ten thousand strings of cash he owed the Government； and he lay in
prison under sentence of death。 There was one advantage to the
situationhe had plenty of time in which to think。 And he thought well。
Then called he the jailer to him。
〃Most worthy man； you see before you one most wretched；〃 he began。
〃Yet all will be well with me if you will but let me go free for one short
hour this night。 And all will be well with you； for I shall see to your
advancement through the years； and you shall come at length to the
directorship of all the prisons of Cho…sen。〃
〃How now？〃 demanded the jailer。 〃What foolishness is this？ One
short hour； and you but waiting for your head to be chopped off！ And I；
with an aged and much…to…be…respected mother； not to say anything of a
wife and several children of tender years！ Out upon you for the
scoundrel that you are！〃
〃From the Sacred City to the ends of all the Eight Coasts there is no
place for me to hide；〃 Yi Chin Ho made reply。 〃I am a man of wisdom；
but of what worth my wisdom here in prison？ Were I free； well I know I
could seek out and obtain the money wherewith to repay the Government。
I know of a nose that will save me from all my difficulties。〃
〃A nose！〃 cried the jailer。
〃A nose；〃 said Yi Chin Ho。 〃A remarkable nose； if I may say so； a
most remarkable nose。〃
The jailer threw up his hands despairingly。 〃Ah； what a wag you are；
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WHEN GOD LAUGHS； AND OTHER STORIES
what a wag；〃 he laughed。 〃To think that that very admirable wit of yours
must go the way of the chopping…block！〃
And so saying； he turned and went away。 But in the end； being a man
soft of head and heart； when the night was well along he permitted Yi Chin
Ho to go。
Straight he went to the Governor； catching him alone and arousing him
from his sleep。
〃Yi Chin Ho； or I'm no Governor！〃 cried the Governor。 〃What do
you here who should be in prison waiting on the chopping…block？〃
〃I pray Your Excellency to listen to me；〃 said Yi Chin Ho； squatting on
his hams by the bedside and lighting his pipe from the fire…box。 〃A dead
man is without value。 It is true； I am as a dead man； without value to the
Government； to Your Excellency； or to myself。 But if； so to say； Your
Excellency were to give me my freedom〃
〃Impossible！〃 cried the Governor。 〃Beside； you are condemned to
death。〃
〃Your Excellency well knows that if I can repay the ten thousand
strings of cash； the Government will pardon me；〃 Yi Chin Ho went on。
〃So； as I say； if Your Excellency were to give me my freedom for a few
days； being a man of understanding； I should then repay the Government
and be in position to be of service to Your Excellency。 I should be in
position to be of very great service to Your Excellency。〃
〃Have you a plan whereby you hope to obtain this money？〃 asked the
Governor。
〃I have；〃 said Yi Chin Ho。
〃Then come with it to me to…morrow night； I would now sleep；〃 said
the Governor； taking up his snore where it had been interrupted。
On the following night； having again obtained leave of absence from
the jailer； Yi Chin Ho presented himself at the Governor's bedside。
〃Is it you； Yi Chin Ho？〃 asked the Governor。 〃And have you the
plan？〃
〃It is I； Your Excellency；〃 answered Yi Chin Ho； 〃and the plan is here。〃
〃Speak；〃 commanded the Governor。
〃The plan is here；〃 repeated Yi Chin Ho； 〃here in my hand。〃
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The Governor sat up and opened his eyes。 Yi Chin Ho proffered in
his hand a sheet of paper。 The Governor held it to the light。
〃Nothing but a nose；〃 said he。
〃A bit pinched； so； and so； Your Excellency；〃 said Yi Chin Ho。
〃Yes； a bit pinched here and there； as you say；〃 said the Governor。
〃Withal it is an exceedin
