the queen of hearts-第46部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

to　look　at；　with　his　colorless　face；　his　sunken　cheeks；　his　wild
black　eyes；　and　his　long　black　hair。　The　first　question　he　asked
me　about　himself　when　he　could　speak　made　me　suspect　that　I　had
been　called　in　to　a　man　in　my　own　profession。　I　mentioned　to　him
my　surmise；　and　he　told　me　that　I　was　right。

He　said　he　had　come　last　from　Paris；　where　he　had　been　attached
to　a　hospital；　that　he　had　lately　returned　to　England；　on　his　way
to　Edinburgh；　to　continue　his　studies；　that　he　had　been　taken　ill
on　the　journey；　and　that　he　had　stopped　to　rest　and　recover
himself　at　Doncaster。　He　did　not　add　a　word　about　his　name；　or
who　he　was；　and　of　course　I　did　not　question　him　on　the　subject。
All　I　inquired　when　he　ceased　speaking　was　what　branch　of　the
profession　he　intended　to　follow。

〃Any　branch；〃　he　said；　bitterly；　〃which　will　put　bread　into　the
mouth　of　a　poor　man。〃

At　this；　Arthur；　who　had　been　hitherto　watching　him　in　silent
curiosity；　burst　out　impetuously　in　his　usual　good…humored　way：

〃My　dear　fellow〃　（everybody　was　〃my　dear　fellow〃　with　Arthur）；
〃now　you　have　come　to　life　again；　don't　begin　by　being
down…hearted　about　your　prospects。　I'll　answer　for　it　I　can　help
you　to　some　capital　thing　in　the　medical　line；　or；　if　I　can't；　I
know　my　father　can。〃

The　medical　student　looked　at　him　steadily。

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　coldly；　then　added；　〃May　I　ask　who　your
father　is？〃

〃He's　well　enough　known　all　about　this　part　of　the　country；〃
replied　Arthur。　〃He　is　a　great　manufacturer；　and　his　name　is
Holliday。〃

My　hand　was　on　the　man's　wrist　during　this　brief　conversation。
The　instant　the　name　of　Holliday　was　pronounced　I　felt　the　pulse
under　my　fingers　flutter；　stop；　go　on　suddenly　with　a　bound；　and
beat　afterward　for　a　minute　or　two　at　the　fever　rate。

〃How　did　you　come　here？〃　asked　the　stranger；　quickly；　excitably；
passionately　almost。

Arthur　related　briefly　what　had　happened　from　the　time　of　his
first　taking　the　bed　at　the　inn。

〃I　am　indebted　to　Mr。　Holliday's　son；　then；　for　the　help　that　has
saved　my　life；〃　said　the　medical　student；　speaking　to　himself；
with　a　singular　sarcasm　in　his　voice。　〃Come　here！〃

He　held　out；　as　he　spoke；　his　long；　white；　bony　right　hand。

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　said　Arthur；　taking　his　hand　cordially。　〃I
may　confess　it　now；〃　he　continued；　laughing；　〃upon　my　honor；　you
almost　frightened　me　out　of　my　wits。〃

The　stranger　did　not　seem　to　listen。　His　wild　black　eyes　were
fixed　with　a　look　of　eager　interest　on　Arthur's　face；　and　his
long　bony　fingers　kept　tight　hold　of　Arthur's　hand。　Young
Holliday；　on　his　side；　returned　the　gaze；　amazed　and　puzzled　by
the　medical　student's　odd　language　and　manners。　The　two　faces
were　close　together；　I　looked　at　them；　and；　to　my　amazement；　I
was　suddenly　impressed　by　the　sense　of　a　likeness　between
themnot　in　features　or　complexion；　but　solely　in　expression。　It
must　have　been　a　strong　likeness；　or　I　should　certainly　not　have
found　it　out；　for　I　am　naturally　slow　at　detecting　resemblances
between　faces。

〃You　have　saved　my　life；〃　said　the　strange　man；　still　looking
hard　in　Arthur's　face；　still　holding　tightly　by　his　hand。　〃If　you
had　been　my　own　brother；　you　could　not　have　done　more　for　me　than
that。〃

He　laid　a　singularly　strong　emphasis　on　those　three　words　〃my　own
brother；〃　and　a　change　passed　over　his　face　as　he　pronounced
thema　change　that　no　language　of　mine　is　competent　to　describe。

〃I　hope　I　have　not　done　being　of　service　to　you　yet；〃　said
Arthur。　〃I'll　speak　to　my　father　as　soon　as　I　get　home。〃

〃You　seem　to　be　fond　and　proud　of　your　father；〃　said　the　medical
student。　〃I　suppose；　in　return；　he　is　fond　and　proud　of　you？〃

〃Of　course　he　is；〃　answered　Arthur；　laughing。　〃Is　there　anything
wonderful　in　that？　Isn't　_your_　father　fond〃

The　stranger　suddenly　dropped　young　Holliday's　hand　and　turned
his　face　away。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Arthur。　〃I　hope　I　have　not
unintentionally　pained　you。　I　hope　you　have　not　lost　your
father？〃

〃I　can't　well　lose　what　I　have　never　had；〃　retorted　the　medical
student；　with　a　harsh　mocking　laugh。

〃What　you　have　never　had！〃

The　strange　man　suddenly　caught　Arthur's　hand　again；　suddenly
looked　once　more　hard　in　his　face。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　with　a　repetition　of　the　bitter　laugh。　〃You　have
brought　a　poor　devil　back　into　the　world　who　has　no　business
there。　Do　I　astonish　you？　Well；　I　have　a　fancy　of　my　own　for
telling　you　what　men　in　my　situation　generally　keep　a　secret。　I
have　no　name　and　no　father。　The　merciful　law　of　society　tells　me
I　am　nobody's　son！　Ask　your　father　if　he　will　be　my　father　too；
and　help　me　on　in　life　with　the　family　name。〃

Arthur　looked　at　me　more　puzzled　than　ever。

I　signed　to　him　to　say　nothing；　and　then　laid　my　fingers　again　on
the　man's　wrist。　No。　In　spite　of　the　extraordinary　speech　that　he
had　just　made；　he　was　not；　as　I　had　been　disposed　to　suspect；
beginning　to　get　light…headed。　His　pulse；　by　this　time；　had
fallen　back　to　a　quiet；　slow　beat；　and　his　skin　was　moist　and
cool。　Not　a　symptom　of　fever　or　agitation　about　him。

Finding　that　neither　of　us　answered　him；　he　turned　to　me；　and
began　talking　of　the　extraordinary　nature　of　his　case；　and　asking
my　advice　about　the　future　course　of　medical　treatment　to　which
he　ought　to　subject　himself。　I　said　the　matter　required　careful
thinking　over；　and　suggested　that　I　should　send　him　a
prescription　a　little　later。　He　told　me　to　write　it　at　once；　as
he　would　most　likely　be　leaving　Doncaster　in　the　morning　before　I
was　up。　It　was　quite　useless　to　represent　to　him　the　folly　and
danger　of　such　a　proceeding　as　this。　He　heard　me　politely　and
patiently；　but　held　to　his　resolution；　without　offering　any
reasons　or　explanations；　and　repeated　to　me　that；　if　I　wished　to
give　him　a　chance　of　seeing　my　prescription；　I　must　write　it　at
once。

Hearing　this；　Arthur　volunteered　the　loan　of　a　traveling
writing…case；　which　he　said　he　had　with　him；　and；　bringing　it　to
the　bed；　shook　the　note…paper　out　of　the　pocket　of　the　case
forthwith　in　his　usual　careless　way。　With　the　paper　there　fell
out　on　the　counterpane　of　the　bed　a　small　packet　of
sticking…plaster；　and　a　little　water…color　drawing　of　a
landscape。

The　medical　student　took　up　the　drawing　and　looked　at　it。　His　eye
fell　on　some　initials　neatly　written　in　cipher　in　one　corner。　He
started　and　trembled；　his　pale　face　grew　whiter　than　over；　his
wild　black　eyes　turned　on　Arthur；　and　looked　through　and　through
him。

〃A　pretty　drawing；〃　he　said；　in　a　remarkably　quiet　tone　of　voice。

〃Ah！　and　done　by　such　a　pretty　girl；〃　said　Arthur。　〃Oh；　such　a
pretty　girl！　I　wish　it　was　not　a　landscapeI　wish　it　was　a
portrait　of　her！〃

〃You　admire　her　very　much？〃

Arthur；　half　in　jest；　half　in　earnest；　kissed　his　hand　for
answer。

〃Love　at　first　sight；〃　said　young　Holliday；　putting　the　drawing
away　again。　〃But　the　course　of　it　doesn't　run　smooth。　It's　the
old　story。　She's　monopolized；　as　usual；　trammeled　by　a　rash
engagement　to　some　poor　man　who　is　never　likely　to　get　money
enough　to　marry　her。　It　was　lucky　I　heard　of　it　in　time；　or　I
should　certainly　have　risked　a　declaration　when　she　gave　me　that
drawing。　Here；　doctor；　here　is　pen；　ink；　and　paper　all　ready　for
you。〃

〃When　she　gave　you　that　drawing？　Gave　it？　gave　it？〃

He　repeated　the　words　slowly　to　himself；　and　suddenly　closed　his
eyes。　A　momentary　distortion　passed　across　his　face；　and　I　saw
one　of　his　hands　clutch　up　the　bedclothes　and　squeeze　them　hard。
I　thought　he　was　going　to　be　ill　again；　and　begged　that　there
might　be　no　more　talking。　He　opened　his　eyes　when　I　spoke；　fixed
them　once　more　searchingly　on　Arthur；　and　said；　slowly　and
distinctly：

〃You　like　her；　and　she　likes　you。　The　poor　man　may　die　out　of
your　way。　Who　can　tell　that　she　may　not　give　you　herself　as　well
as　her　drawing；　after　all？〃

Before　young　Holliday　could　answer　he　turned　to　me；　and　said　in　a
whisper：　〃Now　for　the　prescription。〃　From　that　time；　though　he
spoke　to　Arthur　again；　he　never　looked　at　him　more。

When　I　had　written　the　prescription；　he　examined　it；　approved　of
it；　and　then　astonished　us　both　by　abruptly　wishing　us
good…night。　I　offered　to　sit　up　with　him；　and　he　shook　his　head。
Arthur　offered　to　sit　up　with　him；　and　he　said；　shortly；　with　his
face　turned　away；　〃No。〃　I　insisted　on　having　somebody　left　to
watch　him。　He　gave　way　when　he　found　I　was　determined；　and　said
he　would　accept　the　services　of　the　waiter　at　the　inn。

〃Thank　you　both；〃　he　said；　as　we　rose　to　go。　〃I　have　one　last
favor　to　asknot　of　you；　doctor；　for　I　leave　you　to　exercise
your　professional　discretion；　but　of　Mr。　Holliday。〃　His　eyes；
while　he　spoke；　still　rested　steadily　on　me；　and　never　once
turned　toward　Arthur。　〃I　beg　that　Mr。　Holliday　will　not　mention
to　any　one；　least　of　all　to　his　father；　the　events　that　have
occurred　and　the　words　that　have　passed　in　this　room。　I　entreat
him　to　bury　me　in　his　memory　as；　but　for　him；　I　might　have　been
buried　in　my　grave。　I　cannot　give　my　reason　for　making　this
strange　request。　I　can　only　implore　him　to　grant　it。〃

His　voice　faltered　for　the　first　time；　and　he　hid　his　face　on　the
pillow。　Arthur；　completely　bewildered；　gave　the　requ