little novels-µÚ49ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
£¿¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡more¡¡money£¿¡¡It¡¡is¡¡too¡¡cruel¡¡to¡¡treat¡¡me¡¡in¡¡this¡¡wayit¡¡is¡¡indeed£¡¡¨¡¡He¡¡made¡¡some¡¡answer£»¡¡which¡¡we¡¡were¡¡not¡¡able¡¡to¡¡hear£»¡¡we¡¡could¡¡only¡¡suppose¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡upset¡¡her¡¡temper¡¡again¡£¡¡She¡¡went¡¡on¡¡louder¡¡than¡¡ever¡¡¡¨I've¡¡begged¡¡and¡¡prayed¡¡of¡¡youand¡¡you're¡¡as¡¡hard¡¡as¡¡iron¡£¡¡I've¡¡told¡¡you¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Princeand¡¡_that_¡¡has¡¡had¡¡no¡¡effect¡¡on¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡done¡¡now¡£¡¡We'll¡¡see¡¡what¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡says¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡got¡¡angry£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡turn£»¡¡we¡¡heard¡¡him¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡won't¡¡see¡¡the¡¡doctor£¡¡¨¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡you¡¡refuse¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡doctor£¿I¡¡shall¡¡make¡¡your¡¡refusal¡¡knownand¡¡if¡¡there's¡¡law¡¡in¡¡England£»¡¡you¡¡shall¡¡feel¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡Their¡¡voices¡¡dropped¡¡again£»¡¡some¡¡new¡¡turn¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡taken¡¡by¡¡the¡¡conversation¡£¡¡We¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡lady¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡shrill¡¡and¡¡joyful¡¡this¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¨There's¡¡a¡¡dear£¡¡¡You¡¡see¡¡it£»¡¡don't¡¡you£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡right¡¡light£¿¡¡And¡¡you¡¡haven't¡¡forgotten¡¡the¡¡old¡¡times£»¡¡have¡¡you£¿¡¡You're¡¡the¡¡same¡¡dear£»¡¡honorable£»¡¡kind¡hearted¡¡fellow¡¡that¡¡you¡¡always¡¡were£¡¡¨
I¡¡caught¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡Felicia£»¡¡and¡¡put¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡over¡¡her¡¡mouth¡£
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡in¡¡the¡¡next¡¡room¡¡which¡¡might¡¡have¡¡beenI¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡certainthe¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡a¡¡kiss¡£¡¡The¡¡next¡¡moment£»¡¡we¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡¡unlocked¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡was¡¡opened£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡noise¡¡of¡¡retreating¡¡carriage¡wheels¡¡followed¡£¡¡We¡¡met¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡house¡¡again¡£
My¡¡daughter¡¡walked¡¡up¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡pale¡¡and¡¡determined¡£
¡¨I¡¡insist¡¡on¡¡knowing¡¡who¡¡that¡¡woman¡¡is£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡she¡¡wants¡¡here¡£¡¨¡¡Those¡¡were¡¡her¡¡first¡¡words¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her¡¡like¡¡a¡¡man¡¡in¡¡utter¡¡confusion¡£¡¡¡¨Wait¡¡till¡¡this¡¡evening£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡in¡¡no¡¡state¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡to¡¡you¡¡now£¡¡¨¡¡With¡¡that£»¡¡he¡¡snatched¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡off¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡table¡¡and¡¡rushed¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡£
It¡¡is¡¡little¡¡more¡¡than¡¡three¡¡weeks¡¡since¡¡they¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡London¡¡from¡¡their¡¡happy¡¡wedding¡tourand¡¡it¡¡has¡¡come¡¡to¡¡this£¡
The¡¡clock¡¡has¡¡just¡¡struck¡¡seven£»¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡has¡¡been¡¡left¡¡by¡¡a¡¡messenger£»¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡my¡¡daughter¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡persuaded¡¡her£»¡¡poor¡¡soul£»¡¡to¡¡lie¡¡down¡¡in¡¡her¡¡own¡¡room¡£¡¡God¡¡grant¡¡that¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡may¡¡bring¡¡her¡¡some¡¡tidings¡¡of¡¡her¡¡husband£¡¡¡I¡¡please¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡hearing¡¡good¡¡news¡£
My¡¡mind¡¡has¡¡not¡¡been¡¡kept¡¡long¡¡in¡¡suspense¡£¡¡Felicia's¡¡waiting¡woman¡¡has¡¡brought¡¡me¡¡a¡¡morsel¡¡of¡¡writing¡¡paper£»¡¡with¡¡these¡¡lines¡¡penciled¡¡on¡¡it¡¡in¡¡my¡¡daughter's¡¡handwriting£º¡¡¡¨Dearest¡¡father£»¡¡make¡¡your¡¡mind¡¡easy¡£¡¡Everything¡¡is¡¡explained¡£¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡trust¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡to¡¡you¡¡about¡¡it¡¡to¡nightand¡¡_he_¡¡doesn't¡¡wish¡¡me¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£¡¡Only¡¡wait¡¡till¡¡tomorrow£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡shall¡¡know¡¡all¡£¡¡He¡¡will¡¡be¡¡back¡¡about¡¡eleven¡¡o'clock¡£¡¡Please¡¡don't¡¡wait¡¡up¡¡for¡¡himhe¡¡will¡¡come¡¡straight¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¨
September¡¡13th¡£The¡¡scales¡¡have¡¡fallen¡¡from¡¡my¡¡eyes£»¡¡the¡¡light¡¡is¡¡let¡¡in¡¡on¡¡me¡¡at¡¡last¡£¡¡My¡¡bewilderment¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡uttered¡¡in¡¡wordsI¡¡am¡¡like¡¡a¡¡man¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dream¡£
Before¡¡I¡¡was¡¡out¡¡of¡¡my¡¡room¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning£»¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡upset¡¡by¡¡the¡¡arrival¡¡of¡¡a¡¡telegram¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡myself¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡thing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kind¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡received£»¡¡I¡¡trembled¡¡under¡¡the¡¡prev¡¡ision¡¡of¡¡some¡¡new¡¡misfortune¡¡as¡¡I¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡envelope¡£
Of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡people¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡the¡¡person¡¡sending¡¡the¡¡telegram¡¡was¡¡sister¡¡Judith£¡¡¡Never¡¡before¡¡did¡¡this¡¡distracting¡¡relative¡¡confound¡¡me¡¡as¡¡she¡¡confounded¡¡me¡¡now¡£¡¡Here¡¡is¡¡her¡¡message£º¡¡¡¨You¡¡can't¡¡come¡¡back¡£¡¡An¡¡architect¡¡from¡¡Edinburgh¡¡asserts¡¡his¡¡resolution¡¡to¡¡repair¡¡the¡¡kirk¡¡and¡¡the¡¡manse¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡only¡¡waits¡¡for¡¡his¡¡lawful¡¡authority¡¡to¡¡begin¡£¡¡The¡¡money¡¡is¡¡readybut¡¡who¡¡has¡¡found¡¡it£¿¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Architect¡¡is¡¡forbidden¡¡to¡¡tell¡£¡¡We¡¡live¡¡in¡¡awful¡¡times¡£¡¡How¡¡is¡¡Felicia£¿¡¨
Naturally¡¡concluding¡¡that¡¡Judith's¡¡mind¡¡must¡¡be¡¡deranged£»¡¡I¡¡went¡¡downstairs¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡my¡¡son¡in¡law¡¡£¨for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡since¡¡the¡¡events¡¡of¡¡yesterday£©¡¡at¡¡the¡¡late¡¡breakfast¡¡which¡¡is¡¡customary¡¡in¡¡this¡¡house¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡mebut¡¡Felicia¡¡was¡¡not¡¡present¡£¡¡¡¨She¡¡breakfasts¡¡in¡¡her¡¡room¡¡this¡¡morning£»¡¨¡¡says¡¡Marmaduke£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡am¡¡to¡¡give¡¡you¡¡the¡¡explanation¡¡which¡¡has¡¡already¡¡satisfied¡¡your¡¡daughter¡£¡¡Will¡¡you¡¡take¡¡it¡¡at¡¡great¡¡length£»¡¡sir£¿¡¡or¡¡will¡¡you¡¡have¡¡it¡¡in¡¡one¡¡word£¿¡¨¡¡There¡¡was¡¡something¡¡in¡¡his¡¡manner¡¡that¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡likehe¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡setting¡¡me¡¡at¡¡defiance¡£¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡stiffly£»¡¡¡¨Brevity¡¡is¡¡best£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡have¡¡it¡¡in¡¡one¡¡word¡£¡¨
¡¨Here¡¡it¡¡is¡¡then£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡Barrymore¡£¡¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡POSTSCRIPT¡¡ADDED¡¡BY¡¡FELICIA¡£
If¡¡the¡¡last¡¡line¡¡extracted¡¡from¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡father's¡¡Diary¡¡does¡¡not¡¡contain¡¡explanation¡¡enough¡¡in¡¡itself£»¡¡I¡¡add¡¡some¡¡sentences¡¡from¡¡Marmaduke's¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡sent¡¡from¡¡the¡¡theater¡¡last¡¡night¡£¡¡£¨N¡£¡¡B¡£I¡¡leave¡¡out¡¡the¡¡expressions¡¡of¡¡endearment£º¡¡they¡¡are¡¡my¡¡own¡¡private¡¡property¡££©
¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¨Just¡¡remember¡¡how¡¡your¡¡father¡¡talked¡¡about¡¡theaters¡¡and¡¡actors£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡at¡¡Cauldkirk£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡you¡¡listened¡¡in¡¡dutiful¡¡agreement¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡Would¡¡he¡¡have¡¡consented¡¡to¡¡your¡¡marriage¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡known¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡'spouting¡¡rogues£»'¡¡associated¡¡with¡¡the¡¡'painted¡¡Jezebels'¡¡of¡¡the¡¡playhouse£¿¡¡He¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡consentedand¡¡you¡¡yourself£»¡¡my¡¡darling£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡trembled¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bare¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡marrying¡¡an¡¡actor¡£
¡¨Have¡¡I¡¡been¡¡guilty¡¡of¡¡any¡¡serious¡¡deception£¿¡¡and¡¡have¡¡my¡¡friends¡¡been¡¡guilty¡¡in¡¡helping¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡my¡¡secret£¿¡¡My¡¡birth£»¡¡my¡¡name£»¡¡my¡¡surviving¡¡relatives£»¡¡my¡¡fortune¡¡inherited¡¡from¡¡my¡¡fatherall¡¡these¡¡important¡¡particulars¡¡have¡¡been¡¡truly¡¡stated¡£¡¡The¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Barrymore¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡the¡¡name¡¡that¡¡I¡¡assumed¡¡when¡¡I¡¡went¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stage¡£
¡¨As¡¡to¡¡what¡¡has¡¡happened£»¡¡since¡¡our¡¡return¡¡from¡¡Switzerland£»¡¡I¡¡own¡¡that¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡have¡¡made¡¡my¡¡confession¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡Forgive¡¡me¡¡if¡¡I¡¡weakly¡¡hesitated¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡so¡¡fond¡¡of¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡so¡¡distrusted¡¡the¡¡Puritanical¡¡convictions¡¡which¡¡your¡¡education¡¡had¡¡rooted¡¡in¡¡your¡¡mind£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡put¡¡it¡¡off¡¡from¡¡day¡¡to¡¡day¡£¡¡Oh£»¡¡my¡¡angel¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡££¡
¡¨Yes£»¡¡I¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡address¡¡of¡¡my¡¡new¡¡house¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡from¡¡all¡¡my¡¡friends£»¡¡knowing¡¡they¡¡would¡¡betray¡¡me¡¡if¡¡they¡¡paid¡¡us¡¡visits¡£¡¡As¡¡for¡¡my¡¡mysteriously¡closed¡¡study£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡place¡¡in¡¡which¡¡I¡¡privately¡¡rehearsed¡¡my¡¡new¡¡part¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡left¡¡you¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mornings£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡theater¡¡rehearsals¡£¡¡My¡¡evening¡¡absences¡¡began¡¡of¡¡course¡¡with¡¡the¡¡first¡¡performance¡£
¡¨Your¡¡father's¡¡arrival¡¡seriously¡¡embarrassed¡¡me¡£¡¡When¡¡you¡¡£¨most¡¡properly£©¡¡insisted¡¡on¡¡my¡¡giving¡¡up¡¡some¡¡of¡¡my¡¡evenings¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡you¡¡necessarily¡¡made¡¡it¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡appear¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stage¡£¡¡The¡¡one¡¡excuse¡¡I¡¡could¡¡make¡¡to¡¡the¡¡theater¡¡was£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡ill¡¡to¡¡act¡£¡¡It¡¡did¡¡certainly¡¡occur¡¡to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡Gordian¡¡knot¡¡by¡¡owning¡¡the¡¡truth¡£¡¡But¡¡your¡¡father's¡¡horror£»¡¡when¡¡you¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡the¡¡newspaper¡¡review¡¡of¡¡the¡¡play£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡shame¡¡and¡¡fear¡¡you¡¡showed¡¡at¡¡your¡¡own¡¡boldness£»¡¡daunted¡¡me¡¡once¡¡more¡£
¡¨The¡¡arrival¡¡at¡¡the¡¡theater¡¡of¡¡my¡¡written¡¡excuse¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡manageress¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡me£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡state¡¡of¡¡distraction¡£¡¡Nobody¡¡could¡¡supply¡¡my¡¡place£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡seats¡¡were¡¡taken£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡was¡¡expected¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡what¡¡we¡¡call¡¡a¡¡scene¡¡between¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡lady¡¡and¡¡myself¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wrong£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡position¡¡in¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡impulsively¡¡placed¡¡myself¡¡was¡¡unworthy¡¡of¡¡meand¡¡it¡¡ended¡¡in¡¡my¡¡doing¡¡my¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡the¡¡theater¡¡and¡¡the¡¡public¡£¡¡But¡¡for¡¡the¡¡affair¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bracelet£»¡¡which¡¡obliged¡¡me¡¡as¡¡an¡¡honorable¡¡man¡¡to¡¡give¡¡my¡¡name¡¡and¡¡address£»¡¡the¡¡manageress¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡discovered¡¡me¡£¡¡She£»¡¡like¡¡every¡¡one¡¡else£»¡¡only¡¡knew¡¡of¡¡my¡¡address¡¡at¡¡my¡¡bachelor¡¡chambers¡£¡¡How¡¡could¡¡you¡¡be¡¡jealous¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡theatrical¡¡comrade¡¡of¡¡my¡¡first¡¡days¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stage£¿¡¡Don't¡¡you¡¡know¡¡yet¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡the¡¡one¡¡woman¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡£¿
¡¨A¡¡last¡¡word¡¡relating¡¡to¡¡your¡¡father£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡done¡£
¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡remember¡¡my¡¡leaving¡¡you¡¡at¡¡the¡¡telegraph¡¡office£¿¡¡It¡¡was¡¡to¡¡send¡¡a¡¡message¡¡to¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡mine£»¡¡an¡¡architect¡¡in¡¡Edinburgh£»¡¡instructing¡¡him¡¡to¡¡go¡¡immediately¡¡to¡¡Cauldkirk£»¡¡and¡¡provide¡¡for¡¡the¡¡repairs¡¡at¡¡my¡¡expense¡£¡¡The¡¡theater£»¡¡my¡¡dear£»¡¡more¡¡than¡¡trebles¡¡my¡¡paternal¡¡income£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡can¡¡well¡¡afford¡¡it¡£¡¡Will¡¡your¡¡father¡¡refuse¡¡to¡¡accept¡¡a¡¡tribute¡¡of¡¡respect¡¡to¡¡a¡¡Scottish¡¡minister£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡paid¡¡out¡¡of¡¡an¡¡actor's¡¡pocket£¿¡¡You¡¡shall¡¡ask¡¡him¡¡the¡¡question¡£
¡¨And£»¡¡I¡¡say£»¡¡Feliciawill¡¡you¡¡come¡¡and¡¡see¡¡me¡¡act£¿¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡expect¡¡your¡¡father¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡a¡¡theater£»¡¡but£»¡¡by¡¡way¡¡of¡¡further¡¡reconciling¡¡him¡¡to¡¡his¡¡son¡in¡law£»¡¡suppose¡¡you¡¡ask¡¡him¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡me¡¡read¡¡the¡¡play£¿¡¨
MR¡£¡¡PERCY¡¡AND¡¡THE¡¡PROPHET¡£
PART¡¡1¡£THE¡¡PREDICTION¡£
CHAPTER¡¡I¡£
THE¡¡QUACK¡£
THE¡¡disasters¡¡that¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡hateful¡¡offense¡¡against¡¡Christianity£»¡¡which¡¡men¡¡call¡¡war£»¡¡were¡¡severely¡¡felt¡¡in¡¡England¡¡during¡¡the¡¡peace¡¡that¡¡ensued¡¡on¡¡the¡¡overthrow¡¡of¡¡Napoleon¡¡at¡¡Waterloo¡£¡¡With¡¡rare¡¡exceptions£»¡¡distress¡¡prevailed¡¡among¡¡all¡¡classes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡community¡£¡¡The¡¡starving¡¡nation¡¡was¡¡ripe¡¡and¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡a¡¡revolutionary¡¡rising¡¡against¡¡its¡¡rulers£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡shed¡¡the¡¡people's¡¡blood¡¡and¡¡wasted¡¡the¡¡people's¡¡substance¡¡in¡¡a¡¡war¡¡which¡¡had¡¡yielded¡¡to¡¡the¡¡popular¡¡interests¡¡absolutely¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡return¡£
Among¡¡the¡¡unfortunate¡¡persons¡¡who¡¡were¡¡driven£»¡¡during¡¡the¡¡disastrous¡¡early¡¡years¡¡of¡¡this¡¡century£»¡¡to¡¡strange¡¡shifts¡¡and¡¡devices¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡the¡¡means¡¡of¡¡living£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡obscure¡¡medical¡¡man£»¡¡of¡¡French¡¡extraction£»¡¡named¡¡Lagarde¡£¡¡The¡¡Doctor¡¡£¨duly¡¡qualified¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡the¡¡title£©¡¡was¡¡an¡¡inhabitant¡¡of¡¡London£»¡¡living¡¡in¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡streets¡¡which¡¡connect¡¡the¡¡great¡¡thoroughfare¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Strand¡¡with¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Thames¡£
The¡¡method¡¡of¡¡obtaining¡¡employment¡¡chosen¡¡by¡¡poor¡¡Lagarde£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡one¡¡alternative¡¡left¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡starvation£»¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡still¡¡considered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡medical¡¡profession¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡the¡¡method¡¡of¡¡a¡¡quack¡£¡¡He¡¡advertised¡¡in¡¡the¡¡public¡¡journals¡£
Addressing¡¡himself¡¡especially¡¡to¡¡two¡¡classes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡community£»¡¡the¡¡Doctor¡¡proceeded¡¡in¡¡these¡¡words£º
¡¨I¡¡have¡¡the¡¡honor¡¡of¡¡inviting¡¡to¡¡my¡¡house£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place£º¡¡Persons¡¡afflicted¡¡with¡¡maladies¡¡which¡¡ordinary¡¡medical¡¡practice¡¡has¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡cureand£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡second¡¡place£º¡¡Persons¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡investigations£»¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡which¡¡is¡¡to¡¡penetrate¡¡the¡¡secrets¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future¡£¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡means¡¡by¡¡which¡¡I¡¡endeavor¡¡to¡¡alleviate¡¡suffering¡¡and¡¡to¡¡enlighten¡¡doubt£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡intelligibly¡¡within¡¡the¡¡limits¡¡of¡¡an¡¡advertisement¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¡only¡¡offer¡¡to¡¡submit¡¡my¡¡system¡¡to¡¡public¡¡inquiry£»¡¡without¡¡exacting¡¡any¡¡preliminary¡¡fee¡¡from¡¡ladies¡¡and¡¡gentlemen¡¡who¡¡may¡¡honor¡¡me¡¡with¡¡a¡¡visit¡£¡¡Those¡¡who¡¡see¡¡sufficient¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡trust¡¡me£»¡¡after¡¡personal¡¡experience£»¡¡will¡¡find¡¡a¡¡money¡box¡¡fixed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡waiting¡room¡¡table£»¡¡into¡¡which¡¡they¡¡can¡¡drop¡¡their¡¡offerings¡¡according¡¡to¡¡their¡¡means¡£¡¡Those¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡fortunate¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡satisfy¡¡will¡¡be¡¡pleased¡¡to¡¡accept¡¡the¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡my¡¡regret£»¡¡and¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡give¡¡anything¡£¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡found¡¡at¡¡home¡¡every¡¡evening¡¡between¡¡the¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡six¡¡and¡¡ten¡£¡¨
Toward¡¡the¡¡close¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡¡1816¡¡this¡¡strange¡¡advertisement¡¡became¡¡a¡¡general¡¡topic¡¡of¡¡conversation¡¡among¡¡educated¡¡people¡¡in¡¡London¡£¡¡For¡¡some¡¡weeks¡¡the¡¡Doctor's¡¡invitations¡¡were¡¡generally¡¡acceptedand£»¡¡all¡¡things¡¡considered£»¡¡were¡¡not¡¡badly¡¡remunerated¡£¡¡A¡¡faithful¡¡few¡¡believed¡¡in¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡told¡¡wonderful¡¡stories¡¡of¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡pronounced¡¡and¡¡prophesied¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sanctuary¡¡of¡¡his¡¡consulting¡room¡£¡¡The¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡his¡¡visitors¡¡simply¡¡viewed¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡a¡¡public¡¡amusement£»¡¡and¡¡wondered¡¡why¡¡such¡¡a¡¡gentlemanlike¡¡man¡¡should¡¡have¡¡chosen¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡his¡¡living¡¡by¡¡exhibiting¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡a¡¡quack¡£
CHAPTER¡¡II¡£
THE¡¡NUMBERS¡£
ON¡¡a¡¡raw¡¡and¡¡snowy¡¡evening¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡part¡¡of¡¡January£»¡¡1817£»¡¡a¡¡gentleman£»¡¡walking¡¡along¡¡the¡¡Strand£»¡¡turned¡¡into¡¡the¡¡street¡¡in¡¡which¡¡Doctor¡¡Lagarde¡¡lived£»¡¡and¡¡knocked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡physician's¡¡door¡£
He¡¡was¡¡admitted¡¡by¡¡an¡¡eld¡¡erly¡¡male¡¡servant¡¡to¡¡a¡¡waiting¡room¡¡on¡¡the¡¡first¡¡floor¡£¡¡The¡¡light¡¡of¡¡one¡¡little¡¡lamp£»¡¡placed¡¡on¡¡a¡¡bracket¡¡fixed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡was¡¡so¡¡obscured¡¡by¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡green¡¡shade¡¡as¡¡to¡¡make¡¡it¡¡difficult£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡impossible£»¡¡for¡¡visitors¡¡meeting¡¡by¡¡accident¡¡to¡¡recognize¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡The¡¡metal¡¡money¡b