little novels-第50章

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cult；　if　not　impossible；　for　visitors　meeting　by　accident　to　recognize　each　other。　The　metal　money…box　fixed　to　the　table　was　just　visible。　In　the　flickering　light　of　a　small　fire；　the　stranger　perceived　the　figures　of　three　men　seated；　apart　and　silent；　who　were　the　only　occupants　of　the　room　beside　himself。

So　far　as　objects　were　to　be　seen；　there　was　nothing　to　attract　attention　in　the　waiting…room。　The　furniture　was　plain　and　neat；　and　nothing　more。　The　elderly　servant　handed　a　card；　with　a　number　inscribed　on　it；　to　the　new　visitor；　said　in　a　whisper；　〃Your　number　will　be　called；　sir；　in　your　turn；〃　and　disappeared。　For　some　minutes　nothing　disturbed　the　deep　silence　but　the　faint　ticking　of　a　clock。　After　a　while　a　bell　rang　from　an　inner　room；　a　door　opened；　and　a　gentleman　appeared；　whose　interview　with　Doctor　Lagarde　had　terminated。　His　opinion　of　the　sitting　was　openly　expressed　in　one　emphatic　word〃Humbug！〃　No　contribution　dropped　from　his　hand　as　he　passed　the　money…box　on　his　way　out。

The　next　number　（being　Number　Fifteen）　was　called　by　the　elderly　servant；　and　the　first　incident　occurred　in　the　strange　series　of　events　destined　to　happen　in　the　Doctor's　house　that　night。

One　after　another　the　three　men　who　had　been　waiting　rose；　examined　their　cards　under　the　light　of　the　lamp；　and　sat　down　again　surprised　and　disappointed。

The　servant　advanced　to　investigate　the　matter。　The　numbers　possessed　by　the　three　visitors；　instead　of　being　Fifteen；　Sixteen　and　Seventeen；　proved　to　be　Sixteen；　Seventeen　and　Eighteen。　Turning　to　the　stranger　who　had　arrived　the　last；　the　servant　said：

〃Have　I　made　a　mistake；　sir？　Have　I　given　you　Number　Fifteen　instead　of　Number　Eighteen？〃

The　gentleman　produced　his　numbered　card。

A　mistake　had　certainly　been　made；　but　not　the　mistake　that　the　servant　supposed。　The　card　held　by　the　latest　visitor　turned　out　to　be　the　card　previously　held　by　the　dissatisfied　stranger　who　had　just　left　the　roomNumber　Fourteen！　As　to　the　card　numbered　Fifteen；　it　was　only　discovered　the　next　morning　lying　in　a　corner；　dropped　on　the　floor！

Acting　on　his　first　impulse；　the　servant　hurried　out；　calling　to　the　original　holder　of　Fourteen　to　come　back　and　bear　his　testimony　to　that　fact。　The　street…door　had　been　opened　for　him　by　the　landlady　of　the；　house。　She　was　a　pretty　womanand　the　gentleman　had　fortunately　lingered　to　talk　to　her。　He　was　induced；　at　the　intercession　of　the　landlady；　to　ascend　the　stairs　again。

On　returning　to　the　waiting…room；　he　addressed　a　characteristic　question　to　the　assembled　visitors。　〃_More_　humbug？〃　asked　the　gentleman　who　liked　to　talk　to　a　pretty　woman。

The　servantcompletely　puzzled　by　his　own　stupidityattempted　to　make　his　apologies。

〃Pray　forgive　me；　gentlemen；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　afraid　I　have　confused　the　cards　I　distribute　with　the　cards　returned　to　me。　I　think　I　had　better　consult　my　master。〃

Left　by　themselves；　the　visitors　began　to　speak　jestingly　of　the　strange　situation　in　which　they　were　placed。　The　original　holder　of　Number　Fourteen　described　his　experience　of　the　Doctor　in　his　own　pithy　way。　〃I　applied　to　the　fellow　to　tell　my　fortune。　He　first　went　to　sleep　over　it；　and　then　he　said　he　could　tell　me　nothing。　I　asked　why。　'I　don't　know；'　says　he。　'_　I_　do；'　says　I'humbug！'　I'll　bet　you　the　long　odds；　gentlemen；　that　_you_　find　it　humbug；　too。〃

Before　the　wager　could　be　accepted　or　declined；　the　door　of　the　inner　room　was　opened　again。　The　tall；　spare；　black　figure　of　a　new　personage　appeared　on　the　threshold；　relieved　darkly　against　the　light　in　the　room　behind　him。　He　addressed　the　visitors　in　these　words：

〃Gentlemen；　I　must　beg　your　indulgence。　The　accidentas　we　now　suppose　it　to　bewhich　has　given　to　the　last　comer　the　number　already　held　by　a　gentleman　who　has　unsuccessfully　consulted　me；　may　have　a　meaning　which　we　can　none　of　us　at　present　see。　If　the　three　visitors　who　have　been　so　good　as　to　wait　will　allow　the　present　holder　of　Number　Fourteen　to　consult　me　out　of　his　turnand　if　the　earlier　visitor　who　left　me　dissatisfied　with　his　consultation　will　consent　to　stay　here　a　little　longersomething　may　happen　which　will　justify　a　trifling　sacrifice　of　your　own　convenience。　Is　ten　minutes'　patience　too　much　to　ask　of　you？〃

The　three　visitors　who　had　waited　longest　consulted　among　themselves；　and　（having　nothing　better　to　do　with　their　time）　decided　on　accepting　the　Doctor's　proposal。　The　visitor　who　believed　it　all　to　be　〃humbug〃　coolly　took　a　gold　coin　out　of　his　pocket；　tossed　it　into　the　air；　caught　it　in　his　closed　hand；　and　walked　up　to　the　shaded　lamp　on　the　bracket。

〃Heads；　stay；〃　he　said；　〃Tails；　go。〃　He　opened　his　hand；　and　looked　at　the　coin。　〃Heads！　Very　good。　Go　on　with　your　hocus…pocus；　DoctorI'll　wait。〃

〃You　believe　in　chance；〃　said　the　Doctor；　quietly　observing　him。　〃That　is　not　my　experience　of　life。〃

He　paused　to　let　the　stranger　who　now　held　Number　Fourteen　pass　him　into　the　inner　roomthen　followed；　closing　the　door　behind　him。

CHAPTER　III。

THE　CONSULTATION。

THE　consulting…room　was　better　lighted　than　the　waiting…room；　and　that　was　the　only　difference　between　the　two。　In　the　one；　as　in　the　other；　no　attempt　was　made　to　impress　the　imagination。　Everywhere；　the　commonplace　furniture　of　a　London　lodging…house　was　left　without　the　slightest　effort　to　alter　or　improve　it　by　changes　of　any　kind。

Seen　under　the　clearer　light；　Doctor　Lagarde　appeared　to　be　the　last　person　living　who　would　consent　to　degrade　himself　by　an　attempt　at　imposture　of　any　kind。　His　eyes　were　the　dreamy　eyes　of　a　visionary；　his　look　was　the　prematurely…aged　look　of　a　student；　accustomed　to　give　the　hours　to　his　book　which　ought　to　have　been　given　to　his　bed。　To　state　it　briefly；　he　was　a　man　who　might　easily　be　deceived　by　others；　but　who　was　incapable　of　consciously　practicing　deception　himself。

Signing　to　his　visitor　to　be　seated；　he　took　a　chair　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　small　table　that　stood　between　themwaited　a　moment　with　his　face　hidden　in　his　hands；　as　if　to　collect　himselfand　then　spoke。

〃Do　you　come　to　consult　me　on　a　case　of　illness？〃　he　inquired；　〃or　do　you　ask　me　to　look　to　the　darkness　which　hides　your　future　life？〃

The　answer　to　these　questions　was　frankly　and　briefly　expressed。　〃I　have　no　need　to　consult　you　about　my　health。　I　come　to　hear　what　you　can　tell　me　of　my　future　life。〃

〃I　can　try；〃　pursued　the　Doctor；　〃but　I　cannot　promise　to　succeed。〃

〃I　accept　your　conditions；〃　the　stranger　rejoined。　〃I　never　believe　nor　disbelieve。　If　you　will　excuse　my　speaking　frankly；　I　mean　to　observe　you　closely；　and　to　decide　for　myself。〃

Doctor　Lagarde　smiled　sadly。

〃You　have　heard　of　me　as　a　charlatan　who　contrives　to　amuse　a　few　idle　people；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　complain　of　that；　my　present　position　leads　necessarily　to　misinterpretation　of　myself　and　my　motives。　Still；　I　may　at　least　say　that　I　am　the　victim　of　a　sincere　avowal　of　my　belief　in　a　great　science。　Yes！　I　repeat　it；　a　great　science！　New；　I　dare　say；　to　the　generation　we　live　in；　though　it　was　known　and　practiced　in　the　days　when　pyramids　were　built。　The　age　is　advancing；　and　the　truths　which　it　is　my　misfortune　to　advocate；　before　the　time　is　ripe　for　them；　are　steadily　forcing　their　way　to　recognition。　I　am　resigned　to　wait。　My　sincerity　in　this　matter　has　cost　me　the　income　that　I　derived　from　my　medical　practice。　Patients　distrust　me；　doctors　refuse　to　consult　with　me。　I　could　starve　if　I　had　no　one　to　think　of　but　myself。　But　I　have　another　person　to　consider；　who　is　very　dear　to　me；　and　I　am　driven；　literally　driven；　either　to　turn　beggar　in　the　streets；　or　do　what　I　am　doing　now。〃

He　paused；　and　looked　round　toward　the　corner　of　the　room　behind　him。　〃Mother；〃　he　said　gently；　〃are　you　ready？〃

An　elderly　lady；　dressed　in　deep　mourning；　rose　from　her　seat　in　the　corner。　She　had　been；　thus　far；　hidden　from　notice　by　the　high　back　of　the　easy…chair　in　which　her　son　sat。　Excepting　some　f　olds　of　fine　black　lace；　laid　over　her　white　hair　so　as　to　form　a　head…dress　at　once　simple　and　picturesque；　there　was　nothing　remarkable　in　her　attire。　The　visitor　rose　and　bowed。　She　gravely　returned　his　salute；　and　moved　so　as　to　place　herself　opposite　to　her　son。

〃May　I　ask　what　this　lady　is　going　to　do？〃　said　the　stranger。

〃To　be　of　any　use　to　you；〃　answered　Doctor　Lagarde；　〃I　must　be　thrown　into　the　magnetic　trance。　The　person　who　has　the　strongest　influence　over　me　is　the　person　who　will　do　it　to…night。〃

He　turned　to　his　mother。　〃When　you　like；〃　he　said。

Bending　over　him；　she　took　both　the　Doctor's　hands；　and　looked　steadily　into　his　eyes。　No　words　passed　between　them；　nothing　more　took　place。　In　a　minute　or　two；　his　head　was　resting　against　the　back　of　the　chair；　and　his　eyelids　had　closed。

〃Are　you　sleeping？〃　asked　Madame　Lagarde。

〃I　am　sleeping；〃　he　answered。

She　laid　his　hands　gently　on　the　arms　of　the　chair；　and　turned　to　address　the　visitor。

〃Let　the　sleep　gain　on　him　for　a　minute　or　two　more；〃　she　said。　〃Then　take　one　of　his　hands；　and　put　to　him　what　questions　you　please。〃

〃Does　he　hear　us　now；　madam？〃

〃You　might　fire　off　a　pistol；　sir；　close　to　his　ear；　and　he　would　not　hear　it。　The　vibration　might　disturb　him；　that　is　all。　Until　you　or　I　touch　him；　and　so　establish　the　nervous　sympathy；　he　is　as　lost　to　all　sense　of　our　presence　here；　as　if　he　were　dead。〃

〃Are　you　speaking　of　the　thing　called　Animal　Magnetism；　madam？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃And　you　believe　in　it；　of　course？〃

〃My　son's　belief；　sir；　is　my　belief　in　this　thing　as　in　other　things。　I　have　heard　what　he　has　been　saying　to　you。　It　is　for　me　that　he　sacrifices　himself　by　holding　these　exhibitions；　it　is　in　my　poor　interests　that　his　hardly…earned　money　is　made。　I　am　in　infirm　health；　and；　remonstrate　as　I　may；　my　son　persists　in　providing　for　me；　not　the　bare　comforts　only；　but　even　the　luxuries　of　life。　Whatever　I　may　suffer；　I　have　my　compensation；　I　can　still　thank　God　for　giving　me　the　greatest　happiness　that　a　woman　can　enjoy；　the　possession　of　a　good　son。〃

She　smiled　fondly　as　she　looked　at　the　sleeping　man。　〃Draw　your　chair　nearer　to　him；〃　she　resumed；　〃and　take　his　hand。　You　may　speak　freely　in　making　your　inquiries。　Nothing　that　happens　in　this　room　goes　out　of　it。〃

With　those　words　she　returned　to　her　place；　in　the　corner　behind　her　son's　chair。

The　visitor　took　Doctor　Lagarde's　hand。　As　they　touched　each　other；　he　was　conscious　of　a　faintly…titillating　sensation　in　his　own　handa　sensation　which　oddly　reminded　him　of　bygone　experiments　with　an　electrical　machine；　in　the　days　when　he　was　a　boy　at　school！

〃I　wish　to　question　you　about　my　future　life；〃　he　began。　〃How　ought　I　to　begin？〃

The　Doctor　spoke　his　first　words　in　the　monotonous　tones　of　a　man　talking　in　his　sleep。

〃Own　your　true　motive　before　you　begin；〃　he　said。　〃Your　interest　in　your　future　life　is　centered　in　a　woman。　You　wish　to　know　if　her　heart　will　be　yours　in　the　time　that　is　to　comeand　there　your　interest　in　your　future　life　ends。〃

This　startling　proof　of　the　sleeper's　capacity　to　look；　by　sympathy；　into　his　mind；　and　to　see　there　his　most　secret　thoughts；　instead　of　convincing　the　stranger；　excited　his　suspicions。　〃You　have　means　of　getting　information；〃　he