hard cash-第50章

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


treet；　and　he　had　passed　soon　after；　recognised　him；　and　brought　him　home：　〃I　have　paid　the　men；　sir；　I　wouldn't　let　them　ask　the　ladies　at　such　a　time。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you！　thank　you；　Skinner！　I　will　repay　you；　it　is　me　you　have　obliged。〃　And　Alfred　ran　off　with　the　words　in　his　mouth。

Skinner　looked　after　him　and　muttered：　〃I　forgot　_him。_　It　is　a　nice　mess。　Wish　I　was　out　of　it。〃　And　he　went　back；　hanging　his　head；　to　Alfred's　father。

Mr。　Osmond　met　him。　Skinner　turned　and　saw　him　enter　the　villa。


Mr。　Osmond　came　softly　into　the　room；　examined　Dodd's　eye；　felt　his　pulse；　and　said　he　must　be　bled　at　once。

Mrs。　Dodd　was　averse　to　this。　〃Oh；　let　us　try　everything　else　first；〃　said　she。　But　Osmond　told　her　there　was　no　other　remedy：　〃All　the　functions　we　rely　on　in　the　exhibition　of　medicines　are　suspended。〃

Dr。　Short　now　drove　up；　and　was　ushered　in。

Mrs。　Dodd　asked　him　imploringly　whether　it　was　necessary　to　bleed。　But　Dr。　Short　knew　his　business　too　well　to　be　entrapped　into　an　independent　opinion　where　a　surgeon　had　been　before　him。　He　drew　Mr。　Osmond　apart；　and　inquired　what　he　had　recommended：　this　ascertained；　he　turned　to　Mrs。　Dodd　and　said；　〃I　advise　venesection　or　cupping。〃

〃Oh；　Dr。　Short；　pray　have　pity　and　order　something　less　terrible。　Dr。　Sampson　is　so　averse　to　bleeding。〃

〃Sampson？　Sampson？　never　heard　of　him。〃

〃It　is　the　chronothermal　man；〃　said　Osmond。

〃Oh；　ah！　but　this　is　too　serious　a　case　to　be　quacked。　Coma　with　stertor；　and　a　full；　bounding　pulse；　indicates　liberal　bloodletting。　I　would　try　venesection；　then　cup；　if　necessary；　or　leech　the　temple。　I　need　not　say；　sir；　calomel　must　complete　the　cure。　The　case　is　simple；　and；　at　present；　surgical：　I　leave　it　in　competent　hands。〃　And　he　retired；　leaving　the　inferior　practitioner　well　pleased　with　him　and　with　himself；　no　insignificant　part　of　a　physicians　art。

When　he　was　gone；　Mr。　Osmond　told　Mrs。　Dodd　that　however　crotchety　Dr。　Sampson　might　be；　he　was　an　able　man；　and　had　very　properly　resisted　the　indiscriminate　use　of　the　lancet：　the　profession　owed　him　much。　〃But　in　apoplexy　the　leech　and　the　lancet　are　still　our　sheet…anchor。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　utter　a　faint　shriek：　〃Apoplexy！　Oh；　David！　Oh；　my　darling；　have　you　come　home　for　this？〃

Osmond　assured　her　apoplexy　was　not　necessarily　fatal；　provided　the　cerebral　blood…vessels　were　relieved　in　time　by　depletion。

The　fixed　eye　and　terrible　stertorous　breathing　on　the　one　hand；　and　the　promise　of　relief　on　the　other；　overpowered　Mrs。　Dodd's　reluctance。　She　sent　Julia　out　of　the　room　on　a　pretext；　and　then　consented　with　tears　to　David's　being　bled。　But　she　would　not　yield　to　leave　the　room。　No；　this　tender　woman　nerved　herself　to　see　her　husband's　blood　flow；　sooner　than　risk　his　being　bled　too　much　by　the　hard　hand　of　custom。　Let　the　peevish　fools；　who　make　their　own　troubles　in　love；　compare　their　slight　and　merited　pangs　with　this：　she　was　his　true　lover　and　his　wife；　yet　there　she　stood　with　eye　horror…stricken　yet　unflinching；　and　saw　the　stab　of　the　little　lancet；　and　felt　it　deeper　than　she　would　a　javelin　through　her　own　body；　and　watched　the　blood　run　that　was　dearer　to　her　than　her　own。

At　the　first　prick　of　the　lancet　David　shivered；　and；　as　the　blood　escaped；　his　eye　unfixed；　and　the　pupils　contracted　and　dilated；　and　once　he　sighed。　〃Good　sign　that！〃　said　Osmond。

〃Oh；　that　is　enough；　sir；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd：　〃we　shall　faint　if　you　take　any　more。

Osmond　closed　the　vein；　observing　that　a　local　bleeding　would　do　the　rest。　When　he　had　staunched　the　blood；　Mrs。　Dodd　sank　half　fainting　in　her　chair。　By　some　marvellous　sympathy　it　was　she　who　had　been　bled；　and　whose　vein　was　now　closed。　Osmond　sprinkled　water　on　her　face；　she　thanked　him；　and　said　sweetly；　〃You　see　I　could　not　have　lost　any　more。〃

When　it　was　over　she　came　to　tell　Julia；　she　found　her　sitting　on　the　stairs　crying　and　pale　as　marble。　She　suspected。　And　there　was　Alfred　hanging　over　her；　and　in　agony　at　her　grief：　out　came　his　love　for　her　in　words　and　accents　unmistakable；　and　this　in　Osmond's　hearing　and　the　maid's。

〃Oh；　hush！　hush！〃　cried　poor　Mrs。　Dodd；　and　her　face　was　seen　to　burn　through　her　tears。

And　this　was　the　happy；　quiet；　little　villa　of　my　opening　chapters。

Ah！　Richard　Hardie！　Richard　Hardie！


The　patient　was　cupped　on　the　nape　of　the　neck　by　Mr。　Osmond；　and；　on　the　glasses　drawing；　showed　signs　of　consciousness；　and　the　breathing　was　relieved。　These　favourable　symptoms　were　neither　diminished　nor　increased　by　the　subsequent　application　of　the　cupping　needles。

〃We　have　turned　the　corner。〃　said　Mr。　Osmond　cheerfully。

Rap！　rap！　rap！　came　a　telegraphic　message　from　Dr。　Sampson；　and　was　brought　up　to　the　sick…room。

〃Out　visiting　patients　when　yours　came。　In　apoplexy　with　a　red　face　and　stertorous　breathing；　put　the　feet　in　mustard　bath　and　dash　much　cold　water　on　the　head　from　above。　On　revival　give　emetic：　cure　with　sulphate　of　quinine。　In　apoplexy　with　a　white　face；　treat　as　for　a　simple　faint：　here　emetic　dangerous。　In　neither　apoplexy　bleed。　Coming　down　by　train。〃

This　message　added　to　Mrs。　Dodd's　alarm；　the　whole　treatment　varied　so　far　from　what　had　been　done。　She　faltered　her　misgivings。　Osmond　reassured　her。　〃Not　bleed　in　apoplexy！〃　said　he　superciliously；　〃why；　it　is　the　universal　practice。　Judge　for　yourself。　You　see　the　improvement。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　admitted　it。

〃Then　as　to　the　cold　water；〃　said　Osmond；　〃I　would　hardly　advise　so　rough　a　remedy。　And　he　is　going　on　so　well。　But　you　can　send　for　ice；　and　meantime　give　me　a　good…sized　stocking。〃

He　cut　and　fitted　it　adroitly　to　the　patient's　head；　then　drenched　it　with　eau…de…Cologne；　and　soon　the　head　began　to　steam。

By…and…bye；　David　muttered　a　few　incoherent　words；　and　the　anxious　watchers　thanked　God　aloud　for　them。

At　length　Mr。　Osmond　took　leave　with　a　cheerful　countenance；　and　left　them　all　grateful　to　him；　and　with　a　high　opinion　of　his　judgment　and　skill；　especially　Julia。　She　said　Dr。　Sampson　was　very　amusing　to　talk　to；　but　she　should　be　sorry　to　trust　to　that　rash；　reckless；　boisterous　man　in　time　of　danger。


About　two　in　the　morning　a　fly　drove　rapidly　up　to　the　villa；　and　Sampson　got　out。

He　found　David　pale　and　muttering；　and　his　wife　and　children　hanging　over　him　in　deep　distress。

He　shook　hands　with　them　in　silence；　and　eyed　the　patient　keenly。　He　took　the　nightcap　off；　removed　the　pillows；　lowered　his　head；　and　said　quietly；　〃This　is　the　cold　fit　come　on：　we　must　not　shut　our　eyes　on　the　pashint。　Why；　what　is　this？　he　has　been　cupped！〃　And　Sampson　changed　colour　and　his　countenance　fell。

Mrs。　Dodd　saw　and　began　to　tremble。　〃I　could　not　hear　from　you；　and　Dr。　Short　and　Mr。　Osmond　felt　quite　sure：　and　he　seems　better。　Oh；　Dr。　Sampson；　why　were　you　not　here？　We　have　bled　him　as　well。　Oh；　don't；　don't；　don't　say　it　was　wrong！　He　would　have　died；　they　said　so。　Oh；　David！　David！　your　wife　has　killed　you。〃　And　she　knelt　and　kissed　his　hand　and　implored　his　pardon；　insensible。

Julia　clung　sobbing　to　her　mother；　in　a　vain　attempt　to　comfort　her。

Sampson　groaned。

〃No；　no；〃　said　he：　〃don't　go　on　so；　my　poor　soul；　you　did　all　for　the　best；　and　now　we　must　make　the　best　of　what　is　done。　Hartshorn！　brandy！　and　caution！　For　those　two　assassins　have　tied　my　hands。〃

While　applying　these　timid　remedies；　he　inquired　if　the　cause　was　known。　They　told　him　they　knew　nothing；　but　that　David　had　been　wrecked　on　the　coast　of　France；　and　had　fallen　down　senseless　in　the　street：　a　clerk　of　Mr。　Hardie's　had　recognised　him；　and　brought　him　home：　so　Alfred　said。

〃Then　the　cause　is　mintil；〃　said　Sampson；　〃unless　he　got　a　blow　on　the　hid　in　bein'　wrecked。〃'

He　then　examined　David's　head　carefully；　and　found　a　long　scar。

〃But　this　is　not　it；〃　said　he；　〃this　is　old。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　clasped　her　hands；　and　assured　him　it　was　new　to　her：　her　David　had　no　scar　there　when　he　left　her　last。

Pursuing　his　examination；　Sampson　found　an　open　wound　in　his　left　shoulder。

He　showed　it　them；　and　they　were　all　as　pale　as　the　patient　in　a　moment。　He　then　asked　to　see　his　coat；　and　soon　discovered　a　corresponding　puncture　in　it；　which　he　examined　long　and　narrowly。

〃It　is　a　stabwith　a　one…edged　knife。〃

There　was　a　simultaneous　cry　of　horror。

〃Don't　alarm　yourselves　for　that；〃　said　Sampson；　〃it　is　nothing：　a　mere　flesh…wound。　It　is　the　vein…wound　that　alarms　me。　This　school　knows　nothing　about　the　paroxysms　and　remissions　of　disease。　They　have　bled　and　cupped　him　for　a　_passing　fit。_　It　has　passed　into　the　cold　stage；　but　no　quicker　than　it　would　have　done　without　stealing　a　drop　of　blood。　To…morrow；　by　disease's　nature；　he　will　have　another　hot　fit　in　spite　of　their　bleeding。　Then　those　ijjits　would　leech　his　temples；　and　on　that　paroxysm　remitting　by　the　nature　of　the　disease；　would　fancy　their　leeches　had　cured　it。〃

The　words　were　the　old　words；　but　the　tone　and　manner　was　so　different：　no　shouting；　no　anger：　all　was　spoken　low　and　gently；　and　with　a　sort　of　sad　and　weary　and　worn…out　air。

He　ordered　a　kettle　of　hot　water　and　a　quantity　of　mustard；　and　made　his　preparations　for　the　hot　fit；　as　he　called　it；　maintaining　the　intermittent　and　febrile　character　of　all　disease。


The　patient　rambled　a　good　deal；　but　quite　incoherently；　and　knew　nobody。

But　about　eight　o'clock　in　the　morning　he　was　quite　quiet　and　apparently　sleeping：　so　Mrs。　Dodd　stole　out　of　the　room　to　order　some　coffee　for　Sampson　and　Edward。　They　were　nodding；　worn　out　with　watching。

Julia；　whose　high…strung　nature　could　dispense　with　sleep　on　such　an　occasion；　was　on　her　knees　praying　for　her　father。

Suddenly　there　came　from　the　bed；　like　a　thunder…clap；　two　words　uttered　loud　and　furiously

〃HARDIE！　VILLAIN！〃

Up　started　the　drowsy　watchers；　and　rubbed　their　eyes。　They　had　heard　the　sound；　but　not　the　sense。

Julia　rose　from　her　knees　bewildered　and　aghast：　she　had　caught　the　strange　words　distinctlywords　that　were　to　haunt　her　night　and　day。

They　were　followed　immediately　by　a　loud　groan；　and　the　stertorous　breathing　recommenced；　and　the　face　was　no　longer　pale；　but　flushed　and　turgid。　On　this　Sampson　hurried　Julia　from　the　room；　and；　with　Edward's　help；　placed　David　on　a　stool　in　the　bath；　and　getting　on　a　chair；　discharged　half　a　bucket　of　cold　water　on　his　head：　the　patient　gasped：　another；　and　David　shuddered；　stared　wildly；　and　put　his　hand　to　his　head；　a　third；　and　he　staggered　to　his　feet。

At　this　moment　Mrs。　Dodd　coming　hastily　into　the　room；　he　looked　steadily　at　her；　and　said；　〃Lucy！〃

She　ran　to　throw　her　arms　round　him；　but　Sampson　interfered。　〃Gently！　gently！〃　said　he；　〃we　must　have　no　violent　emotions。〃

〃Oh；　no！　I　will　be　prudent。〃　And　she　stood　quiet　with　her　arms　still　extended；　and　cried　for　joy。

They　got　David　to　bed　again；　anti　Sampson　told　Mrs。　Dodd　there　was　no　danger　now　from　the　malady；　but　only　from　the　remedies。

And　in　fact　David　fell　into　a　state　of　weakness　and　exhaustion；　and　kept　muttering　unintelligibly。

Dr。　Short　called　in　the　morning；　and　was　invited　to　consult　with　Dr。　Sampson。　He　declined。　〃Dr。　Sampson　is　a　notorious　quack：　no　physician　of　any　eminence　will　meet　him　in　consultation。〃

〃I　regret　that　resolution；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　quietly；　〃as　it　will　de