michael, brother of jerry-第24章

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〃Can't　say　that　I　am；〃　Daughtry　agreed。　　〃I　guess　I　got　to　get　back　to　the　sea　an'　the　tropics　and　warm　the　rheumatics　outa　me。〃

〃Where？〃　queried　Doctor　Emory；　almost　absently；　so　well　did　he　feign　it；　as　if　apparently　on　the　verge　of　returning　to　a　closer　examination；　of　Kwaque's　swelling。

Daughtry　extended　his　left　hand；　with　a　little　wiggle　of　the　little　finger　advertising　the　seat　of　the　affliction。　　Walter　Merritt　Emory　saw；　with　seeming　careless　look　out　from　under　careless…drooping　eyelids；　the　little　finger　slightly　swollen；　slightly　twisted；　with　a　smooth；　almost　shiny；　silkiness　of　skin…　texture。　　Again；　in　the　course　of　turning　to　look　at　Kwaque；　his　eyes　rested　an　instant　on　the　lion…lines　of　Daughtry's　brow。

〃Rheumatism　is　still　the　great　mystery；〃　Doctor　Emory　said；　returning　to　Daughtry　as　if　deflected　by　the　thought。　　〃It's　almost　individual；　there　are　so　many　varieties　of　it。　　Each　man　has　a　kind　of　his　own。　　Any　numbness？〃

Daughtry　laboriously　wiggled　his　little　finger。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　answered。　　〃It　ain't　as　lively　as　it　used　to　was。〃

〃Ah；〃　Walter　Merritt　Emory　murmured；　with　a　vastitude　of　confidence　and　assurance。　　〃Please　sit　down　in　that　chair　there。　Maybe　I　won't　be　able　to　cure　you；　but　I　promise　you　I　can　direct　you　to　the　best　place　to　live　for　what's　the　matter　with　you。　Miss　Judson！〃

And　while　the　trained…nurse…apparelled　young　woman　seated　Dag　Daughtry　in　the　enamelled　surgeon's　chair　and　leaned　him　back　under　direction；　and　while　Doctor　Emory　dipped　his　finger…tips　into　the　strongest　antiseptic　his　office　possessed；　behind　Doctor　Emory's　eyes；　in　the　midst　of　his　brain；　burned　the　image　of　a　desired　Irish　terrier　who　did　turns　in　sailor…town　cabarets；　was　rough…coated；　and　answered　to　the　full　name　of　Killeny　Boy。

〃You've　got　rheumatism　in　more　places　than　your　little　finger；〃　he　assured　Daughtry。　　〃There's　a　touch　right　here；　I'll　wager；　on　your　forehead。　　One　moment；　please。　　Move　if　I　hurt　you；　Otherwise　sit　still；　because　I　don't　intend　to　hurt　you。　　I　merely　want　to　see　if　my　diagnosis　is　correct。There；　that's　it。　　Move　when　you　feel　anything。　　Rheumatism　has　strange　freaks。Watch　this；　Miss　Judson；　and　I'll　wager　this　form　of　rheumatism　is　new　to　you。　See。　　He　does　not　resent。　　He　thinks　I　have　not　begun　yet　。　。　。　〃

And　as　he　talked；　steadily；　interestingly；　he　was　doing　what　Dag　Daughtry　never　dreamed　he　was　doing；　and　what　made　Kwaque；　looking　on；　almost　dream　he　was　seeing　because　of　the　unrealness　and　impossibleness　of　it。　　For；　with　a　large　needle；　Doctor　Emory　was　probing　the　dark　spot　in　the　midst　of　the　vertical　lion…lines。　Nor　did　he　merely　probe　the　area。　　Thrusting　into　it　from　one　side；　under　the　skin　and　parallel　to　it；　he　buried　the　length　of　the　needle　from　sight　through　the　insensate　infiltration。　　This　Kwaque　beheld　with　bulging　eyes；　for　his　master　betrayed　no　sign　that　the　thing　was　being　done。

〃Why　don't　you　begin？〃　Dag　Daughtry　questioned　impatiently。　〃Besides；　my　rheumatism　don't　count。　　It's　the　nigger…boy's　swelling。〃

〃You　need　a　course　of　treatment；〃　Doctor　Emory　assured　him。　〃Rheumatism　is　a　tough　proposition。　　It　should　never　be　let　grow　chronic。　　I'll　fix　up　a　course　of　treatment　for　you。　　Now；　if　you'll　get　out　of　the　chair；　we'll　look　at　your　black　servant。〃

But　first；　before　Kwaque　was　leaned　back；　Doctor　Emory　threw　over　the　chair　a　sheet　that　smelled　of　having　been　roasted　almost　to　the　scorching　point。　　As　he　was　about　to　examine　Kwaque；　he　looked　with　a　slight　start　of　recollection　at　his　watch。　　When　he　saw　the　time　he　startled　more；　and　turned　a　reproachful　face　upon　his　assistant。

〃Miss　Judson；〃　he　said；　coldly　emphatic；　〃you　have　failed　me。　Here　it　is；　twenty　before　twelve；　and　you　knew　I　was　to　confer　with　Doctor　Hadley　over　that　case　at　eleven…thirty　sharp。　　How　he　must　be　cursing　me！　　You　know　how　peevish　he　is。〃

Miss　Judson　nodded；　with　a　perfect　expression　of　contrition　and　humility；　as　if　she　knew　all　about　it；　although；　in　reality；　she　knew　only　all　about　her　employer　and　had　never　heard　till　that　moment　of　his　engagement　at　eleven…thirty。

〃Doctor　Hadley's　just　across　the　hall；〃　Doctor　Emory　explained　to　Daughtry。　　〃It　won't　take　me　five　minutes。　　He　and　I　have　a　disagreement。　　He　has　diagnosed　the　case　as　chronic　appendicitis　and　wants　to　operate。　　I　have　diagnosed　it　as　pyorrhea　which　has　infected　the　stomach　from　the　mouth；　and　have　suggested　emetine　treatment　of　the　mouth　as　a　cure　for　the　stomach　disorder。　　Of　course；　you　don't　understand；　but　the　point　is　that　I've　persuaded　Doctor　Hadley　to　bring　in　Doctor　Granville；　who　is　a　dentist　and　a　pyorrhea　expert。　　And　they're　all　waiting　for　me　these　ten　minutes！　　I　must　run。

〃I'll　return　inside　five　minutes；〃　he　called　back　as　the　door　to　the　hall　was　closing　upon　him。〃Miss　Judson；　please　tell　those　people　in　the　reception…room　to　be　patient。〃

He　did　enter　Doctor　Hadley's　office；　although　no　sufferer　from　pyorrhea　or　appendicitis　awaited　him。　　Instead；　he　used　the　telephone　for　two　calls：　　one　to　the　president　of　the　board　of　health；　the　other　to　the　chief　of　police。　　Fortunately；　he　caught　both　at　their　offices；　addressing　them　familiarly　by　their　first　names　and　talking　to　them　most　emphatically　and　confidentially。

Back　in　his　own　quarters；　he　was　patently　elated。

〃I　told　him　so；〃　he　assured　Miss　Judson；　but　embracing　Daughtry　in　the　happy　confidence。　　〃Doctor　Granville　backed　me　up。　　Straight　pyorrhea；　of　course。　　That　knocks　the　operation。　　And　right　now　they're　jolting　his　gums　and　the　pus…sacs　with　emetine。　　Whew！　　A　fellow　likes　to　be　right。　　I　deserve　a　smoke。　　Do　you　mind；　Mr。　Daughtry？〃

And　while　the　steward　shook　his　head；　Doctor　Emory　lighted　a　big　Havana　and　continued　audibly　to　luxuriate　in　his　fictitious　triumph　over　the　other　doctor。　　As　he　talked；　he　forgot　to　smoke；　and；　leaning　quite　casually　against　the　chair；　with　arrant　carelessness　allowed　the　live　coal　at　the　end　of　his　cigar　to　rest　against　the　tip　of　one　of　Kwaque's　twisted　fingers。　　A　privy　wink　to　Miss　Judson；　who　was　the　only　one　who　observed　his　action；　warned　her　against　anything　that　might　happen。

〃You　know；　Mr。　Daughtry；〃　Walter　Merritt　Emory　went　on　enthusiastically；　while　he　held　the　steward's　eyes　with　his　and　while　all　the　time　the　live　end　of　the　cigar　continued　to　rest　against　Kwaque's　finger；　〃the　older　I　get　the　more　convinced　I　am　that　there　are　too　many　ill…advised　and　hasty　operations。〃

Still　fire　and　flesh　pressed　together；　and　a　tiny　spiral　of　smoke　began　to　arise　from　Kwaque's　finger…end　that　was　different　in　colour　from　the　smoke　of　a　cigar…end。

〃Now　take　that　patient　of　Doctor　Hadley's。　　I've　saved　him；　not　merely　the　risk　of　an　operation　for　appendicitis；　but　the　cost　of　it；　and　the　hospital　expenses。　　I　shall　charge　him　nothing　for　what　I　did。　　Hadley's　charge　will　be　merely　nominal。　　Doctor　Granville；　at　the　outside；　will　cure　his　pyorrhea　with　emetine　for　no　more　than　a　paltry　fifty　dollars。　　Yes；　by　George；　besides　the　risk　to　his　life；　and　the　discomfort；　I've　saved　that　man；　all　told；　a　cold　thousand　dollars　to　surgeon；　hospital；　and　nurses。〃

And　while　he　talked　on；　holding　Daughtry's　eyes；　a　smell　of　roast　meat　began　to　pervade　the　air。　　Doctor　Emory　smelled　it　eagerly。　So　did　Miss　Judson　smell　it；　but　she　had　been　warned　and　gave　no　notice。　　Nor　did　she　look　at　the　juxtaposition　of　cigar　and　finger；　although　she　knew　by　the　evidence　of　her　nose　that　it　still　obtained。

〃What's　burning？〃　Daughtry　demanded　suddenly；　sniffing　the　air　and　glancing　around。

〃Pretty　rotten　cigar；〃　Doctor　Emory　observed；　having　removed　it　from　contact　with　Kwaque's　finger　and　now　examining　it　with　critical　disapproval。　　He　held　it　close　to　his　nose；　and　his　face　portrayed　disgust。　　〃I　won't　say　cabbage　leaves。　　I'll　merely　say　it's　something　I　don't　know　and　don't　care　to　know。　　That's　the　trouble。　　They　get　out　a　good；　new　brand　of　cigar；　advertise　it；　put　the　best　of　tobacco　into　it；　and；　when　it　has　taken　with　the　public；　put　in　inferior　tobacco　and　ride　the　popularity　of　it。　　No　more　in　mine；　thank　you。　　This　day　I　change　my　brand。〃

So　speaking；　he　tossed　the　cigar　into　a　cuspidor。　　And　Kwaque；　leaning　back　in　the　queerest　chair　in　which　he　had　ever　sat；　was　unaware　that　the　end　of　his　finger　had　been　burned　and　roasted　half　an　inch　deep；　and　merely　wondered　when　the　medicine　doctor　would　cease　talking　and　begin　looking　at　the　swelling　that　hurt　his　side　under　his　arm。

And　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　and　for　the　ultimate　time；　Dag　Daughtry　fell　down。　　It　was　an　irretrievable　fall…down。　　Life；　in　its　freedom　of　come　and　go；　by　heaving　sea　and　reeling　deck；　through　the　home　of　the　trade…winds；　back　and　forth　between　the　ports；　ceased　there　for　him　in　Walter　Merritt　Emory's　office；　while　the　calm…browed　Miss　Judson　looked　on　and　marvelled　that　a　man's　flesh　should　roast　and　the　man　wince　not　from　the　roasting　of　it。

Doctor　Emory　continued　to　talk；　and　tried　a　fresh　cigar；　and；　despite　the　fact　that　his　reception…room　was　overflowing；　delivered；　not　merely　a　long；　but　a　live　and　interesting；　dissertation　on　the　subject　of　cigars　and　of　the　tobacco　leaf　and　filler　as　grown　and　prepared　for　cigars　in　the　tobacco…favoured　regions　of　the　earth。

〃Now；　as　regards　this　swelling；〃　he　was　saying；　as　he　began　a　belated　and　distant　examination　of　Kwaque's　affliction；　〃I　should　say；　at　a　glance；　that　it　is　neither　tumour　nor　cancer；　nor　is　it　even　a　boil。　　I　should　say　。　。　。　〃

A　knock　at　the　private　door　into　the　hall　made　him　straighten　up　with　an　eagerness　that　he　did　not　attempt　to　mask。　　A　nod　to　Miss　Judson　sent　her　to　open　the　door；　and　entered　two　policemen；　a　police　sergeant；　and　a　professionally　whiskered　person　in　a　business　suit　with　a　carnation　in　his　button…hole。

〃Good　morning；　Doctor　Masters；〃　Emory　greeted　the　professional　one；　and；　to　the　others：　　〃Howdy；　Sergeant；〃　〃Hello；　Tim；〃　〃Hello；　Johnsonwhen　did　they　shift　you　off　the　Chinatown　squad？〃

And　then；　continuing　his　suspended　sentence；　Walter　Merritt　Emory　held　on；　looking　intently　at　Kwaque's　swelling：

〃I　should　say；　as　I　was　saying；　that　it　is　the　finest；　ripest；　perforating　ulcer　of　the　bacillus　leprae　order；　that　any　San　Francisco　doctor　has　had　the　honour　of　presenting　to　the　board　of　health。〃

〃Leprosy！〃　exclaimed　Doctor　Masters。

And　all　started　at　his　pronouncement　of　the　word。　　The　sergeant　and　the　two　policemen　shied　away　from　Kwaque；　Miss　Judson；　with　a　smothered　cry；　clapped　her　two　hands　over　her　heart；　and　Dag　Daughtry；　shocked　but　sceptical；　demanded：

〃What　are　you　givin'　us；　Doc。？〃

〃Stand　still！　don't　move！〃　Walter　Merritt　Emory　said　peremptorily　to　Daughtry。　　〃I　want　you　to　take　notice；〃　he　added　to　the　others；　as　he　gently　touched　the　live…end　of　his　fresh　cigar　to　the　area　of　dark　skin　above　and　between　the　steward's　eyes。　　〃Don't　move；〃　he　commanded　Daughtry。　　〃Wait　a　moment。　　I　am　not　ready　yet。〃

And　while　Daughtry　waited；　perplexed；　confused；　wondering　why　Doctor　Emory　did　not　proceed；　the　coal　of　fire　burned　his　skin　and　flesh；　till　the　smoke　of　it　was　apparent　to　all；　as　was　the　smell　of　it。　　With　a　sharp　laugh　of　triumph；　Doctor　Emory　stepped　back。

〃Well；　go　ahead　with　what　you　was　goin'　to　do；〃　Daughtry　grumbled；　the　rush　of　events