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as to his master。 In that large and busy class； the raw
material of the anatomists kept perpetually running out； and
the business thus rendered necessary was not only unpleasant
in itself； but threatened dangerous consequences to all who
were concerned。 It was the policy of Mr。 K… to ask no
questions in his dealings with the trade。 'They bring the
body； and we pay the price；' he used to say； dwelling on the
alliteration … 'QUID PRO QUO。' And； again； and somewhat
profanely； 'Ask no questions；' he would tell his assistants；
'for conscience' sake。' There was no understanding that the
subjects were provided by the crime of murder。 Had that idea
been broached to him in words； he would have recoiled in
horror； but the lightness of his speech upon so grave a
matter was； in itself； an offence against good manners； and a
temptation to the men with whom he dealt。 Fettes； for
instance； had often remarked to himself upon the singular
freshness of the bodies。 He had been struck again and again
by the hang…dog； abominable looks of the ruffians who came to
him before the dawn； and putting things together clearly in
his private thoughts； he perhaps attributed a meaning too
immoral and too categorical to the unguarded counsels of his
master。 He understood his duty； in short； to have three
branches： to take what was brought； to pay the price； and to
avert the eye from any evidence of crime。
One November morning this policy of silence was put sharply
to the test。 He had been awake all night with a racking
toothache … pacing his room like a caged beast or throwing
himself in fury on his bed … and had fallen at last into that
profound； uneasy slumber that so often follows on a night of
pain； when he was awakened by the third or fourth angry
repetition of the concerted signal。 There was a thin； bright
moonshine； it was bitter cold； windy； and frosty； the town
had not yet awakened； but an indefinable stir already
preluded the noise and business of the day。 The ghouls had
come later than usual； and they seemed more than usually
eager to be gone。 Fettes； sick with sleep； lighted them
upstairs。 He heard their grumbling Irish voices through a
dream； and as they stripped the sack from their sad
merchandise he leaned dozing； with his shoulder propped
against the wall； he had to shake himself to find the men
their money。 As he did so his eyes lighted on the dead face。
He started； he took two steps nearer； with the candle raised。
'God Almighty！' he cried。 'That is Jane Galbraith！'
The men answered nothing； but they shuffled nearer the door。
'I know her； I tell you；' he continued。 'She was alive and
hearty yesterday。 It's impossible she can be dead； it's
impossible you should have got this body fairly。'
'Sure； sir； you're mistaken entirely；' said one of the men。
But the other looked Fettes darkly in the eyes； and demanded
the money on the spot。
It was impossible to misconceive the threat or to exaggerate
the danger。 The lad's heart failed him。 He stammered some
excuses； counted out the sum； and saw his hateful visitors
depart。 No sooner were they gone than he hastened to confirm
his doubts。 By a dozen unquestionable marks he identified
the girl he had jested with the day before。 He saw； with
horror； marks upon her body that might well betoken violence。
A panic seized him； and he took refuge in his room。 There he
reflected at length over the discovery that he had made；
considered soberly the bearing of Mr。 K…'s instructions and
the danger to himself of interference in so serious a
business； and at last； in sore perplexity； determined to wait
for the advice of his immediate superior； the class
assistant。
This was a young doctor； Wolfe Macfarlane； a high favourite
among all the reckless students； clever； dissipated； and
unscrupulous to the last degree。 He had travelled and
studied abroad。 His manners were agreeable and a little
forward。 He was an authority on the stage； skilful on the
ice or the links with skate or golf…club； he dressed with
nice audacity； and； to put the finishing touch upon his
glory； he kept a gig and a strong trotting…horse。 With
Fettes he was on terms of intimacy； indeed； their relative
positions called for some community of life； and when
subjects were scarce the pair would drive far into the
country in Macfarlane's gig； visit and desecrate some lonely
graveyard； and return before dawn with their booty to the
door of the dissecting…room。
On that particular morning Macfarlane arrived somewhat
earlier than his wont。 Fettes heard him； and met him on the
stairs； told him his story； and showed him the cause of his
alarm。 Macfarlane examined the marks on her body。
'Yes；' he said with a nod； 'it looks fishy。'
'Well； what should I do？' asked Fettes。
'Do？' repeated the other。 'Do you want to do anything？
Least said soonest mended； I should say。'
'Some one else might recognise her；' objected Fettes。 'She
was as well known as the Castle Rock。'
'We'll hope not；' said Macfarlane； 'and if anybody does …
well； you didn't； don't you see； and there's an end。 The
fact is； this has been going on too long。 Stir up the mud；
and you'll get K… into the most unholy trouble； you'll be in
a shocking box yourself。 So will I； if you come to that。 I
should like to know how any one of us would look； or what the
devil we should have to say for ourselves； in any Christian
witness…box。 For me； you know there's one thing certain …
that； practically speaking； all our subjects have been
murdered。'
'Macfarlane！' cried Fettes。
'Come now！' sneered the other。 'As if you hadn't suspected
it yourself！'
'Suspecting is one thing … '
'And proof another。 Yes； I know； and I'm as sorry as you are
this should have come here；' tapping the body with his cane。
'The next best thing for me is not to recognise it； and；' he
added coolly； 'I don't。 You may； if you please。 I don't
dictate； but I think a man of the world would do as I do； and
I may add； I fancy that is what K… would look for at our
hands。 The question is； Why did he choose us two for his
assistants？ And I answer； because he didn't want old wives。'
This was the tone of all others to affect the mind of a lad
like Fettes。 He agreed to imitate Macfarlane。 The body of
the unfortunate girl was duly dissected； and no one remarked
or appeared to recognise her。
One afternoon； when his day's work was over； Fettes dropped
into a popular tavern and found Macfarlane sitting with a
stranger。 This was a small man； very pale and dark； with
coal…black eyes。 The cut of his features gave a promise of
intellect and refinement which was but feebly realised in his
manners； for he proved； upon a nearer acquaintance； coarse；
vulgar； and stupid。 He exercised； however； a very remarkable
control over Macfarlane； issued orders like the Great Bashaw；
became inflamed at the le