hard cash-第44章

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like　lockjaw。　But　her　description　had　been　cut　short　by　a　severe　attack；　which　choked　her　and　turned　her　speechless　and　motionless；　and　white　to　the　very　lips。

〃'Oho；'　sis　I；　'brist…pang！'　And　at　such　a　time；　ye　know。　But　these　women　are　as　unseasonable　as　they　are　unreasonable。　Now；　angina　pictoris　or　brist…pang　is　not　curable　through　the　lungs；　nor　the　stomick；　nor　the　liver；　nor　the　stays；　nor　the　saucepan；　as　the　bunglintinkerindox　of　the　schools　pretind；　but　only　through　that　mighty　mainspring　the　Brain；　and　instid　of　going　meandering　to　the　Brain　round　by　the　stomick；　and　so　giving　the　wumman　lots　o'　time　to　die　first；　which　is　the　scholastic　practice；　I　wint　at　the　Brain　direct；　took　a　puff　o'　chlorofm　put　m'　arm　round　her　neck；　laid　her　back　in　a　chairshe　didn't　struggle；　for；　when　this　disorrder　grips　ye；　ye　cant　move　hand　nor　footand　had　my　lady　into　the　land　of　Nod　in　half　a　minute；　thin　off　t'　her　husband；　so　here's　th'　Healer　between　two　stoolsspare　the　whipcord；　spoil　the　knacker！it　would　be　a　good　joke　if　I　was　to　lose　both　pashints　for　want　of　a　little　unbeequity；　wouldn't　itLash　the　lazy　vagabin！Not　that　I　care：　what　interest　have　I　in　their　lives？　they　never　pay：　but　ye　see　custom's　second　nature；　an　d'Ive　formed　a　vile　habit；　I've　got　to　be　a　Healer　among　the　killers：　an　d'a　Triton　amongthe　millers。　Here　we　are　at　last；　Hiven　be　praised。〃　And　he　hopped　into　the　house　faster　than　most　people　can　run　on　a　good　errand。　Alfred　flung　the　reins　to　a　cad　and　followed　him。

The　room　was　nearly　full　of　terrified　neighbours：　Sampson　shouldered　them　all　roughly　out　of　his　way；　and　there；　on　a　bed；　lay　Maxley's　gaunt　figure　in　agony。

His　body　was　drawn　up　by　the　middle　into　an　arch；　and　nothing　touched　the　bed　but　the　head　and　the　heels；　the　toes　were　turned　back　in　the　most　extraordinary　contortion；　and　the　teeth　set　by　the　rigour　of　the　convulsion；　and　in　the　man's　white　face　and　fixed　eyes　were　the　horror　and　anxiety；　that　so　often　show　themselves　when　the　body　feels　itself　in　the　grip　of　Death。

Mr。　Osmond　the　surgeon　was　there；　he　had　applied　a　succession　of　hot　cloths　to　the　pit　of　the　stomach；　and　was　trying。　to　get　laudanum　down　the　throat；　but　the　clenched　teeth　were　impassable。

He　now　looked　up　and　said　politely；　〃Ah！　Dr。　Sampson；　I　am　glad　to　see　you　here。　The　seizure　is　of　a　cataleptic　nature；　I　apprehend。　The　treatment　hitherto　has　been　hot　epithems　to　the　abdomen；　and〃

Here　Sampson；　who　had　examined　the　patient　keenly；　and　paid　no　more　attention　to　Osmond　than　to　a　fly　buzzing；　interrupted　him　as　unceremoniously

〃Poisoned；〃　said　he　philosophically。

〃Poisoned！！〃　screamed　the　people。

〃Poisoned！〃　cried　Mr。　Osmond；　in　whose　little　list　of　stereotyped　maladies　poisoned　had　no　place。　〃Is　there　any　one　you　have　reason　to　suspect？〃

〃I　don't　suspect；　nor　conject；　sir：　I　know。　The　man　is　poisoned；　the　substance　strychnine。　Now　stand　out　of　the　way　you　gaping　gabies；　and　let　me　work。　Hy；　young　Oxford！　you　are　a　man：　get　behind　and　hold　both　his　arms　for　your　life！　That's　you！〃

He　whipped　off　his　coat　laid　hold　of　Osmond's　epithems；　chucked　them　across　the　room；　saying；　〃You　may　just　as　well　squirt　rose…water　at　a　house　on　fire；〃　drenched　his　handkerchief　with　chloroform；　sprang　upon　the　patient　like　a　mountain　cat　and　chloroformed　him　with　all　his　might。

Attacked　so　skilfully　and　resolutely；　Maxley　resisted　little　for　so　strong　a　man；　but　the　potent　poison　within　fought　virulently：　as　a　proof；　the　chloroform　had　to　be　renewed　three　times　before　it　could　produce　any　effect。　At　last　the　patient　yielded　to　the　fumes　and　became　insensible。

Then　the　arched　body　subsided　and　the　rigid　muscles　relaxed　and　turned　supple。　Sampson　kneaded　the　man　like　dough　by　way　of　comment。

〃It　is　really　very　extraordinary；〃　said　Osmond。

〃Maidearrsirr；　nothing's　extraornary　t'　a　man　that　knows　the　reason　of　iverything。〃

He　then　inquired　if　any　one　in　the　room　had　noticed　at　what　intervals　of　time　the　pains　came　on。

〃I　am　sorry　to　say　it　is　continuous；〃　said　Osmond。

〃Maidearrsirr；　nothing　on　airth　is　continuous：　iverything　has　paroxysms　and　remissionsfrom　a　toothache　t'　a　cancer。〃

He　repeated　his　query　in　various　forms；　till　at　last　a　little　girl　squeaked　out；　〃If_you_…please；　sir；　the　throes　do　come　about　every　ten　minutes；　for　I　was　a　looking　at　the　clock；　I　carries　father　his　dinner　at　twelve。〃

〃If　you　please；　ma'am；　there's　half　a　guinea　for　you　for　not　being　such　an'　ijjit　as　the　rest　of　the　world；　especially　the　Dockers。〃　And　he　jerked　her　half　a　sovereign。

A　stupor　fell　on　the　assembly。　They　awoke　from　it　to　examine　the　coin；　and　see　if　it　was　real；　or　only　yellow　air。

Maxley　came　to　and　gave　a　sigh　of　relief。　When　he　had　been　insensible；　yet　out　of　pain；　nearly　eight　minutes　by　the　clock；　Sampson　chloroformed　him　again。　〃I'll　puzzle　ye；　my　friend　strych；〃　said　he。　〃How　will　ye　get　your　perriodical　paroxysms　when　the　man　is　insensible？　The　Dox　say　y'　act　direct　on　the　spinal　marrow。　Well；　there's　the　spinal　marrow　where　you　found　it　just　now。　Act　on　it　again；　my　lad！　I　give　ye　leaveif　ye　can。　Ye　can't；　bekase　ye　must　pass　through　the　Brain　to　get　there：　and　I　occupy　the　Brain　with　a　swifter　ajint　than　y'　are；　and　mean　to　keep　y'　out　of　it　till　your　power　to　kill　evaporates；　being　a　vigitable。〃

With　this　his　spirits　mounted；　and　he　indulged　in　a　harmless　and　favourite　fiction：　he　feigned　the　company　were　all　males　and　medical　students；　Osmond　included；　and　he　the　lecturer。　〃Now；　jintlemen；〃　said　he；　〃obsairve　the　great　Therey　of　the　Perriodeecity　and　Remitteney　of　all　disease；　in　conjunckshin　with　its　practice。　All　diseases　have　paroxysms　and　remissions；　which　occur　at　intervals；　sometimes　it's　a　year；　sometimes　a　day；　an　hour；　ten　minutes；　but　whatever　th'　interval；　they　are　true　to　it：　they　keep　time。　Only　when　the　disease　is　retirin；　the　remissions　become　longer；　the　paroxysms　return　at　a　greater　interval；　and　just　the　revairse　when　the　pashint　is　to　die。　This；　jintlemen；　is　man's　life　from　the　womb　to　the　grave：　the　throes　that　precede　his　birth　are　remittent　like　ivery　thing　else；　but　come　at　diminished　intervals　when　he　has　really　made　up　his　mind　to　be　born　（his　first　mistake；　sirs；　but　not　his　last）；　and　the　paroxysms　of　his　mortal　disease　come　at　shorter　intervals　when　he　is　really　goon　off　the　hooks：　but　still　chronometrically；　just　as　watches　keep　time　whether　they　go　fast　or　slow。　Now；　jintlemen；　isn't　this　a　beautiful　Therey？〃

〃Oh；　mercy！　Oh；　good　people　help　me！　Oh；　Jesus　Christ　have　pity　on　me！〃　And　the　sufferer's　body　was　bent　like　a　bow；　and　his　eyes　filled　with　horror；　and　his　toes　pointed　at　his　chin。

The　Doctor　hurled　himself　on　the　foe。　〃Come；〃　said　he；　〃smell　to　this；　lad！　That's　right！　He　is　better　already；　jintlemen；　or　he　couldn't　howl；　ye　know。　Deevil　a　howl　in　um　before　I　gave　um　puff　chlorofm。　Ah！　would　ye？　would　ye？〃

〃Oh！　oh！　oh！　oh！　ugh！ah！〃

The　Doctor　got　off　the　insensible　body；　and　resumed　his　lecture　calmly；　like　one　who　has　disposed　of　some　childish　interruption。　〃And　now　to　th'　application　of　the　Therey：　If　the　poison　can　reduce　the　tin　minutes'　interval　to　five　minutes；　this　pashint　will　die；　and　if　I　can　get　the　tin　minutes　up　t'　half　hour；　this　pashint　will　live。　Any　way；　jintlemen；　we　won't　detain　y'　unreasonably：　the　case　shall　be　at　an　end　by　one　o'clock。〃

On　hearing　this　considerate　stipulation；　up　went　three　women's　aprons　to　their　eyes。

〃Alack！　poor　James　Maxley！　he　is　at　his　last　hour：　it　be　just　gone　twelve；　and　a　dies　at　one。〃

Sampson　turned　on　the　weepers。　〃Who　says　that；　y'　ijjits？　I　said　the　case　would　end　at　one：　a　case　ends　when　the　pashint　gets　well　or　dies。〃

〃Oh；　that　is　good　news　for　poor　Susan　Maxley；　her　man　is　to　be　well　by　one　o'clock；　Doctor　says。〃

Sampson　groaned；　and　gave　in。　he　was　strong；　but　not　strong　enough　to　make　the　populance　suspend　an　opinion。

Yet；　methinks　it　might　be　done：　by　chloroforming　them。

The　spasms　came　at　longer　intervals　and　less　violent；　and　Maxley　got　so　fond　of　the　essence　of　Insensibility；　that　he　asked　to　have　some　in　his　own　hand　to　apply　at　the　first　warning　of　the　horrible　pains。

Sampson　said；　〃Any　fool　can　complete　the　cure；　and；　by　way　of　practical　comment；　left　him　in　Mr。　Osmond's　charge；　but　with　an　understanding　that　the　treatment　should　not　be　varied；　that　no　laudanum　should　be　given；　but；　in　due　course；　a　stiff　tumbler　of　brandy　and　water；　or　two。　〃If　he　gets　drunk；　all　the　better；　a　little　intoxication　weakens　the　body's　memory　of　the　pain　it　has　endured；　and　so　expedites　the　cure。　Now　off　we　go　to　th'　other。〃

〃The　body's　memory！〃　said　Mr。　Osmond　to　himself：　〃what　on　earth　does　the　quack　mean？〃

The　driver　_de　jure_　of　the　fly　was　not　quite　drunk　enough　to　lose　his　horse　and　vehicle　without　missing　them。　He　was　on　the　look　out　for　the　robber；　and　as　Alfred　came　round　the　corner　full　pelt；　darted　at　the　reins　with　a　husky　remonstrance；　and　Alfred　cut　into　him　with　the　whip：　an　angry　explanationa　guineaand　behold　the　driver　sitting　behind　complacent　and　nodding。

Arrived　at　Albion　Villa；　Alfred　asked　Sampson　submissively　if　he　might　come　in　and　see　the　wife　cured。

〃Why；　of　course；〃　said　Sampson；　not　knowing　the　delicate　position。

〃Then　ask　me　in　before　Mrs。　Dodd；〃　murmured　Alfred　coaxingly。

〃Oo；　ay；〃　said　the　Doctor　knowingly：　〃I　see。〃

Mrs。　Maxley　was　in　the　dining…room：　she　had　got　well　of　herself；　but　was　crying　bitterly；　and　the　ladies　would　not　let　her　go　home　yet；　they　feared　the　worst　and　that　some　one　would　blurt　it　out　to　her。

To　this　anxious　trio　entered　Sampson　radiant。　〃There；　it's　all　right。　Come；　little　Maxley；　ye　needn't　cry；　he　has　got　lots　more　mischief　to　do　in　the　world　yet；　but；　O　wumman；　it　is　lucky　you　came　to　me　and　not　to　any　of　the　tinkering　dox。　No　more　cat　and　dog　for　you　and　him　but　for　the　Chronothairmal　Therey。　And　you　may　bless　my　puppy's　four　bones　too：　he　ran　and　stole　a　fly　like　a　man；　and　drove　hilter…skilter。　Now；　lf　I　had　got　to　your　house　two　minutes　later；　your　Jamie　would　have　lairned　the　great　secret　ere　this。〃　He　threw　up　the　window。　〃Haw　you！　come　away　and　receive　the　applause　due　from　beauty　t'　ajeelity。〃

Alfred　came　in　timidly；　and　was　received　with　perfect　benignity　and　self…possession　by　Mrs。　Dodd；　but　Julia's　face　was　dyed　with　blushes；　and　her　eyes　sparkled　the　eloquent　praise　she　was　ashamed　to　speak　before　them　all。　But　such　a　face　as　her　scarce　needed　the　help　of　a　voice　at　such　a　time。　And　indeed　both　the　lovers'　faces　were　a　pretty　sight　and　a　study。　How　they　stole　loving　glances；　but　tried　to　keep　within　bounds；　and　not　steal　more　than　three　per　minute！　and　how　unconscious　they　endeavoured　to　look　the　intervening　seconds！　and　what　windows　were　the　demure　complacent　visages　they　thought　they　were　making　shutters　of！　Innocent　love　has　at　least　this　advantage　over　melodramatic；　that　it　can　extract　exquisite　sweetness　out　of　so　small　a　thing。　These　sweethearts　were　not　alone；　could　not　open　their　hearts；　must　not　even　gaze　too　long；　yet　to　be　in　the　same　room　even　on　such　terms　was　a　taste　of　Heaven。

〃But；　dear　heart！〃　said　Mrs。　Maxley；　〃ye　don't　tell　me　what　he　ailed。　Ma'am；　if　you　had　seen　him　you　would　have　said　he　was　taken　for　death。〃

〃Pray　what　_is_　the　complaint？〃　inquire