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！
intrude on none。 I will leave you my address； however … '
'I do not wish it … I do not wish to know the roof that
shelters you；' interrupted the other。 'I heard your name； I
feared it might be you； I wished to know if； after all； there
were a God； I know now that there is none。 Begone！'
He still stood in the middle of the rug； between the stair
and doorway； and the great London physician； in order to
escape； would be forced to step to one side。 It was plain
that he hesitated before the thought of this humiliation。
White as he was； there was a dangerous glitter in his
spectacles； but while he still paused uncertain； he became
aware that the driver of his fly was peering in from the
street at this unusual scene and caught a glimpse at the same
time of our little body from the parlour； huddled by the
corner of the bar。 The presence of so many witnesses decided
him at once to flee。 He crouched together； brushing on the
wainscot； and made a dart like a serpent； striking for the
door。 But his tribulation was not yet entirely at an end；
for even as he was passing Fettes clutched him by the arm and
these words came in a whisper； and yet painfully distinct；
'Have you seen it again？'
The great rich London doctor cried out aloud with a sharp；
throttling cry； he dashed his questioner across the open
space； and； with his hands over his head； fled out of the
door like a detected thief。 Before it had occurred to one of
us to make a movement the fly was already rattling toward the
station。 The scene was over like a dream； but the dream had
left proofs and traces of its passage。 Next day the servant
found the fine gold spectacles broken on the threshold； and
that very night we were all standing breathless by the bar…
room window； and Fettes at our side； sober； pale； and
resolute in look。
'God protect us； Mr。 Fettes！' said the landlord； coming first
into possession of his customary senses。 'What in the
universe is all this？ These are strange things you have been
saying。'
Fettes turned toward us； he looked us each in succession in
the face。 'See if you can hold your tongues；' said he。
'That man Macfarlane is not safe to cross； those that have
done so already have repented it too late。'
And then； without so much as finishing his third glass； far
less waiting for the other two； he bade us good…bye and went
forth； under the lamp of the hotel； into the black night。
We three turned to our places in the parlour； with the big
red fire and four clear candles； and as we recapitulated what
had passed； the first chill of our surprise soon changed into
a glow of curiosity。 We sat late； it was the latest session
I have known in the old George。 Each man； before we parted；
had his theory that he was bound to prove； and none of us had
any nearer business in this world than to track out the past
of our condemned companion； and surprise the secret that he
shared with the great London doctor。 It is no great boast；
but I believe I was a better hand at worming out a story than
either of my fellows at the George； and perhaps there is now
no other man alive who could narrate to you the following
foul and unnatural events。
In his young days Fettes studied medicine in the schools of
Edinburgh。 He had talent of a kind； the talent that picks up
swiftly what it hears and readily retails it for its own。 He
worked little at home； but he was civil； attentive； and
intelligent in the presence of his masters。 They soon picked
him out as a lad who listened closely and remembered well；
nay； strange as it seemed to me when I first heard it； he was
in those days well favoured； and pleased by his exterior。
There was； at that period； a certain extramural teacher of
anatomy； whom I shall here designate by the letter K。 His
name was subsequently too well known。 The man who bore it
skulked through the streets of Edinburgh in disguise； while
the mob that applauded at the execution of Burke called
loudly for the blood of his employer。 But Mr。 K… was then at
the top of his vogue； he enjoyed a popularity due partly to
his own talent and address； partly to the incapacity of his
rival； the university professor。 The students； at least；
swore by his name； and Fettes believed himself； and was
believed by others； to have laid the foundations of success
when he had acquired the favour of this meteorically famous
man。 Mr。 K… was a BON VIVANT as well as an accomplished
teacher； he liked a sly illusion no less than a careful
preparation。 In both capacities Fettes enjoyed and deserved
his notice； and by the second year of his attendance he held
the half…regular position of second demonstrator or sub…
assistant in his class。
In this capacity the charge of the theatre and lecture…room
devolved in particular upon his shoulders。 He had to answer
for the cleanliness of the premises and the conduct of the
other students； and it was a part of his duty to supply；
receive； and divide the various subjects。 It was with a view
to this last … at that time very delicate … affair that he
was lodged by Mr。 K… in the same wynd； and at last in the
same building； with the dissecting…rooms。 Here； after a
night of turbulent pleasures； his hand still tottering； his
sight still misty and confused； he would be called out of bed
in the black hours before the winter dawn by the unclean and
desperate interlopers who supplied the table。 He would open
the door to these men； since infamous throughout the land。
He would help them with their tragic burden； pay them their
sordid price； and remain alone； when they were gone； with the
unfriendly relics of humanity。 From such a scene he would
return to snatch another hour or two of slumber； to repair
the abuses of the night； and refresh himself for the labours
of the day。
Few lads could have been more insensible to the impressions
of a life thus passed among the ensigns of mortality。 His
mind was closed against all general considerations。 He was
incapable of interest in the fate and fortunes of another；
the slave of his own desires and low ambitions。 Cold； light；
and selfish in the last resort； he had that modicum of
prudence； miscalled morality； which keeps a man from
inconvenient drunkenness or punishable theft。 He coveted；
besides； a measure of consideration from his masters and his
fellow…pupils； and he had no desire to fail conspicuously in
the external parts of life。 Thus he made it his pleasure to
gain some distinction in his studies； and day after day
rendered unimpeachable eye…service to his employer； Mr。 K…。
For his day of work he indemnified himself by nights of
roaring； blackguardly enjoyment； and when that balance had
been struck； the organ that he called his conscience declared
itself content。
The supply of subjects was a continual trouble to him as well
as to his master。 In that large and busy class； the raw
material of the anatomists kept per