armadale-第2章

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walking　pace　of　the　horses；　and　drew　up；　as　a　hearse　might　have
drawn　up；　at　the　door　of　the　inn。

〃Is　the　doctor　here？〃　asked　a　woman's　voice；　speaking；　out　of　the
darkness　of　the　carriage；　in　the　French　language。

〃I　am　here；　madam；〃　replied　the　doctor；　taking　a　light　from　the
landlord's　hand　and　opening　the　carriage　door。

The　first　face　that　the　light　fell　on　was　the　face　of　the　lady
who　had　just　spokena　young；　darkly　beautiful　woman；　with　the
tears　standing　thick　and　bright　in　her　eager　black　eyes。　The
second　face　revealed　was　the　face　of　a　shriveled　old　negress；
sitting　opposite　the　lady　on　the　back　seat。　The　third　was　the
face　of　a　little　sleeping　child　in　the　negress's　lap。　With　a
quick　gesture　of　impatience；　the　lady　signed　to　the　nurse　to
leave　the　carriage　first　with　the　child。　〃Pray　take　them　out　of
the　way；〃　she　said　to　the　landlady；　〃pray　take　them　to　their
room。〃　She　got　out　herself　when　her　request　had　been　complied
with。　Then　the　light　fell　clear　for　the　first　time　on　the　further
side　of　the　carriage；　and　the　fourth　traveler　was　disclosed　to
view。

He　lay　helpless　on　a　mattress；　supported　by　a　stretcher；　his
hair；　long　and　disordered；　under　a　black　skull…cap；　his　eyes　wide
open；　rolling　to　and　fro　ceaselessly　anxious；　the　rest　of　his
face　as　void　of　all　expression　of　the　character　within　him；　and
the　thought　within　him；　as　if　he　had　been　dead。　There　was　no
looking　at　him　now；　and　guessing　what　he　might　once　have　been。
The　leaden　blank　of　his　face　met　every　question　as　to　his　age；
his　rank；　his　temper；　and　his　looks　which　that　face　might　once
have　answered；　in　impenetrable　silence。　Nothing　spoke　for　him　now
but　the　shock　that　had　struck　him　with　the　death…in…life　of
paralysis。　The　doctor's　eye　questioned　his　lower　limbs；　and
Death…in…Life　answered；　_I　am　here。_　The　doctor's　eye；　rising
attentively　by　way　of　his　hands　and　arms；　questioned　upward　and
upward　to　the　muscles　round　his　mouth；　and　Death…in…Life
answered；　_I　am　coming。_

In　the　face　of　a　calamity　so　unsparing　and　so　dreadful；　there　was
nothing　to　be　said。　The　silent　sympathy　of　help　was　all　that
could　be　offered　to　the　woman　who　stood　weeping　at　the　carriage
door。

As　they　bore　him　on　his　bed　across　the　hall　of　the　hotel；　his
wandering　eyes　encountered　the　face　of　his　wife。　They　rested　on
her　for　a　moment；　and　in　that　moment　he　spoke。

〃The　child？〃　he　said　in　English；　with　a　slow；　thick；　laboring
articulation。

〃The　child　is　safe　upstairs；〃　she　answered；　faintly。

〃My　desk？〃

〃It　is　in　my　hands。　Look！　I　won't　trust　it　to　anybody；　I　am
taking　care　of　it　for　you　myself。〃

He　closed　his　eyes　for　the　first　time　after　that　answer；　and　said
no　more。　Tenderly　and　skillfully　he　was　carried　up　the　stairs；
with　his　wife　on　one　side　of　him；　and　the　doctor　（ominously
silent）　on　the　other。　The　landlord　and　the　servants　following　saw
the　door　of　his　room　open　and　close　on　him；　heard　the　lady　burst
out　crying　hysterically　as　soon　as　she　was　alone　with　the　doctor
and　the　sick　man；　saw　the　doctor　come　out；　half　an　hour　later；
with　his　ruddy　face　a　shade　paler　than　usual；　pressed　him　eagerly
for　information；　and　received　but　one　answer　to　all　their
inquiries〃Wait　till　I　have　seen　him　to…morrow。　Ask　me　nothing
to…night。〃　They　all　knew　the　doctor's　ways；　and　they　augured　ill
when　he　left　them　hurriedly　with　that　reply。

So　the　two　first　English　visitors　of　the　year　came　to　the　Baths
of　Wildbad　in　the　season　of　eighteen　hundred　and　thirty…two。

CHAPTER　II。

THE　SOLID　SIDE　OF　THE　SCOTCH　CHARACTER。

AT　ten　o'clock　the　next　morning；　Mr。　Nealwaiting　for　the
medical　visit　which　he　had　himself　appointed　for　that
hourlooked　at　his　watch；　and　discovered；　to　his　amazement；　that
he　was　waiting　in　vain。　It　was　close　on　eleven　when　the　door
opened　at　last；　and　the　doctor　entered　the　room。

〃I　appointed　ten　o'clock　for　your　visit；〃　said　Mr。　Neal。　〃In　my
country；　a　medical　man　is　a　punctual　man。〃

〃In　my　country；〃　returned　the　doctor；　without　the　least
ill…humor；　〃a　medical　man　is　exactly　like　other　menhe　is　at　the
mercy　of　accidents。　Pray　grant　me　your　pardon；　sir；　for　being　so
long　after　my　time；　I　have　been　detained　by　a　very　distressing
casethe　case　of　Mr。　Armadale；　whose　traveling…carriage　you
passed　on　the　road　yesterday。〃

Mr。　Neal　looked　at　his　medical　attendant　with　a　sour　surprise。
There　was　a　latent　anxiety　in　the　doctor's　eye；　a　latent
preoccupation　in　the　doctor's　manner；　which　he　was　at　a　loss　to
account　for。　For　a　moment　the　two　faces　confronted　each　other
silently；　in　marked　national　contrastthe　Scotchman's；　long　and
lean；　hard　and　regular；　the　German's；　plump　and　florid；　soft　and
shapeless。　One　face　looked　as　if　it　had　never　been　young；　the
other；　as　if　it　would　never　grow　old。

〃Might　I　venture　to　remind　you；〃　said　Mr。　Neal；　〃that　the　case
now　under　consideration　is　MY　case；　and　not　Mr。　Armadale's？〃

〃Certainly；〃　replied　the　doctor；　still　vacillating　between　the
case　he　had　come　to　see　and　the　case　he　had　just　left。　〃You
appear　to　be　suffering　from　lameness；　let　me　look　at　your　foot。〃

Mr。　Neal's　malady；　however　serious　it　might　be　in　his　own
estimation；　was　of　no　extraordinary　importance　in　a　medical　poi
nt　of　view。　He　was　suffering　from　a　rheumatic　affection　of　the
ankle…joint。　The　necessary　questions　were　asked　and　answered　and
the　necessary　baths　were　prescribed。　In　ten　minutes　the
consultation　was　at　an　end；　and　the　patient　was　waiting　in
significant　silence　for　the　medical　adviser　to　take　his　leave。

〃I　cannot　conceal　from　myself；〃　said　the　doctor；　rising；　and
hesitating　a　little；　〃that　I　am　intruding　on　you。　But　I　am
compelled　to　beg　your　indulgence　if　I　return　to　the　subject　of
Mr。　Armadale。〃

〃May　I　ask　what　compels　you？〃

〃The　duty　which　I　owe　as　a　Christian；〃　answered　the　doctor；　〃to　a
dying　man。〃

Mr。　Neal　started。　Those　who　touched　his　sense　of　religious　duty
touched　the　quickest　sense　in　his　nature。

〃You　have　established　your　claim　on　my　attention；〃　he　said；
gravely。　〃My　time　is　yours。〃

〃I　will　not　abuse　your　kindness；〃　replied　the　doctor；　resuming
his　chair。　〃I　will　be　as　short　as　I　can。　Mr。　Armadale's　case　is
briefly　this：　He　has　passed　the　greater　part　of　his　life　in　the
West　Indiesa　wild　life；　and　a　vicious　life；　by　his　own
confession。　Shortly　after　his　marriagenow　some　three　years
sincethe　first　symptoms　of　an　approaching　paralytic　affection
began　to　show　themselves；　and　his　medical　advisers　ordered　him
away　to　try　the　climate　of　Europe。　Since　leaving　the　West　Indies
he　has　lived　principally　in　Italy；　with　no　benefit　to　his　health。
From　Italy；　before　the　last　seizure　attacked　him；　he　removed　to
Switzerland；　and　from　Switzerland　he　has　been　sent　to　this　place。
So　much　I　know　from　his　doctor's　report；　the　rest　I　can　tell　you
from　my　own　personal　experience。　Mr。　Armadale　has　been　sent　to
Wildbad　too　late：　he　is　virtually　a　dead　man。　The　paralysis　is
fast　spreading　upward；　and　disease　of　the　lower　part　of　the　spine
has　already　taken　place。　He　can　still　move　his　hands　a　little；
but　he　can　hold　nothing　in　his　fingers。　He　can　still　articulate；
but　he　may　wake　speechless　to…morrow　or　next　day。　If　I　give　him　a
week　more　to　live；　I　give　him　what　I　honestly　believe　to　be　the
utmost　length　of　his　span。　At　his　own　request　I　told　him；　as
carefully　and　as　tenderly　as　I　could；　what　I　have　just　told　you。
The　result　was　very　distressing；　the　violence　of　the　patient's
agitation　was　a　violence　which　I　despair　of　describing　to　you。　I
took　the　liberty　of　asking　him　whether　his　affairs　were
unsettled。　Nothing　of　the　sort。　His　will　is　in　the　hands　of　his
executor　in　London；　and　he　leaves　his　wife　and　child　well
provided　for。　My　next　question　succeeded　better；　it　hit　the　mark：
'Have　you　something　on　your　mind　to　do　before　you　die　which　is
not　done　yet？'　He　gave　a　great　gasp　of　relief；　which　said；　as　no
words　could　have　said　it；　Yes。　'Can　I　help　you？'　'Yes。　I　have
something　to　write　that　I　_must_　write；　can　you　make　me　hold　a
pen？'

〃He　might　as　well　have　asked　me　if　I　could　perform　a　miracle。　I
could　only　say　No。　'If　I　dictate　the　words；'　he　went　on；　'can　you
write　what　I　tell　you　to　write？'　Once　more　I　could　only　say　No。　I
understand　a　little　English；　but　I　can　neither　speak　it　nor　write
it。　Mr。　Armadale　understands　French　when　it　is　spoken　（as　I　speak
it　to　him）　slowly；　but　he　cannot　express　himself　in　that
language；　and　of　German　he　is　totally　ignorant。　In　this
difficulty；　I　said；　what　any　one　else　in　my　situation　would　have
said：　'Why　ask　_me？_　there　is　Mrs。　Armadale　at　your　service　in
the　next　room。'　Before　I　could　get　up　from　my　chair　to　fetch　her；
he　stopped　menot　by　words；　but　by　a　look　of　horror　which　fixed
me；　by　main　force　of　astonishment；　in　my　place。　'Surely；'　I　said；
'your　wife　is　the　fittest　person　to　write　for　you　as　you　desire？'
'The　last　person　under　heaven！'　he　answered。　'What！'　I　said；　'you
ask　me；　a　foreigner　and　a　stranger；　to　write　words　at　your
dictation　which　you　keep　a　secret　from　your　wife！'　Conceive　my
astonishment　when　he　answered　me；　without　a　moment's　hesitation；
'Yes！'　I　sat　lost；　I　sat　silent。　'If　_you_　can't　write　English；'
he　said；　'find　somebody　who　can。'　I　tried　to　remonstrate。　He
burst　into　a　dreadful　moaning　crya　dumb　entreaty；　like　the
entreaty　of　a　dog。　'Hush！　hush！'　I　said；　'I　will　find　somebody。'
'To…day！'　he　broke　out；　'before　my　speech　fails　me；　like　my
hand。'　'To…day；　in　an　hour's　time。'　He　shut　his　eyes；　he　quieted
himself　instantly。　'While　I　am　waiting　for　you；'　he　said；　'let　me
see　my　little　boy。'　He　had　shown　no　tenderness　when　he　spoke　of
his　wife；　but　I　saw　the　tears　on　his　cheeks　when　he　asked　for　his
child。　My　profession；　sir；　has　not　made　me　so　hard　a　man　as　you
might　think；　and　my　doctor's　heart　was　as　heavy；　when　I　went　out
to　fetch　the　child；　as　if　I　had　not　been　a　doctor　at　all。　I　am
afraid　you　think　this　rather　weak　on　my　part？〃

The　doctor　looked　appealingly　at　Mr。　Neal。　He　might　as　well　have
looked　at　a　rock　in　the　Black　Forest。　Mr。　Neal　entirely　declined
to　be　drawn　by　any　doctor　in　Christendom　out　of　the　regions　of
plain　fact。

〃Go　on；〃　he　said。　〃I　presume　you　have　not　told　me　all　that　you
have　to　tell　me；　yet？〃

〃Surely　you　understand　my　object　in　coming　here；　now？〃　returned
the　other

〃Your　object　is　plain　enough；　at　last。　You　invite　me　to　connect
myself　blindfold　with　a　matter　which　is　in　the　last　degree
suspicious；　so　far。　I　decline　giving　you　any　answer　until　I　know
more　than　I　know　now。　Did　you　think　it　necessary　to　inform　this
man's　wife　of　what　had　passed　between　you；　and　to　ask　her　for　an
explanation？〃

〃Of　course　I　thought　it　necessary！〃　said　the　doctor；　indignant　at
the　reflection　on　his　humanity　which　the　question　seemed　to
imply。　〃If　ever　I　saw　a　woman　fond　of　her　husband；　and　sorry　for
her　husband；　it　is　this　unhappy　Mrs。　Armadale。　As　soon　as　we　were
left　alone　together；　I　sat　down　by　her　side；　and　I　took　her　hand
in　mine。　Why　not？　I　am　an　ugly　old　man；　and　I　may　allow　myself
such　liberties　as　these！〃

〃Excuse　me；〃　said　the　impenetrable　Scotchman。　〃I　beg　to　suggest
that　you　are　losing　the　thread　of　the　narrative。〃

〃Nothing　more　likely；〃　returned　the　doctor；　recovering　his　good
humor。　〃It　is