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！
He came； and as far as possible； I renewed our old pleasure of making
tete…a…tete excursions； though； instead of mountains and glacers and the
wide blue lake； we had to content ourselves with mere slopes and ponds
and artificial plantations。 The years had changed us both； but with what
different result！ Meunier was now a brilliant figure in society； to whom
elegant women pretended to listen； and whose acquaintance was boasted
of by noblemen ambitious of brains。 He repressed with the utmost
delicacy all betrayal of the shock which I am sure he must have received
from our meeting； or of a desire to penetrate into my condition and
circumstances； and sought by the utmost exertion of his charming social
powers to make our reunion agreeable。 Bertha was much struck by the
unexpected fascinations of a visitor whom she had expected to find
presentable only on the score of his celebrity； and put forth all her
coquetries and acplishments。 Apparently she succeeded in attracting
his admiration； for his manner towards her was attentive and flattering。
The effect of his presence on me was so benignant； especially in those
renewals of our old tete…a…tete wanderings； when he poured forth to me
wonderful narratives of his professional experience； that more than once；
when his talk turned on the psychological relations of disease； the thought
crossed my mind that； if his stay with me were long enough； I might
possibly bring myself to tell this man the secrets of my lot。 Might there
not lie some remedy for me； too； in his science？ Might there not at least
lie some prehension and sympathy ready for me in his large and
susceptible mind？ But the thought only flickered feebly now and then；
and died out before it could bee a wish。 The horror I had of again
breaking in on the privacy of another soul； made me； by an irrational
instinct； draw the shroud of concealment more closely around my own； as
we automatically perform the gesture we feel to be wanting in another。
When Meunier's visit was approaching its conclusion； there happened
an event which caused some excitement in our household； owing to the
surprisingly strong effect it appeared to produce on Berthaon Bertha； the
self…possessed； who usually seemed inaccessible to feminine agitations；
and did even her hate in a self…restrained hygienic manner。 This event
was the sudden severe illness of her maid； Mrs。 Archer。 I have reserved
to this moment the mention of a circumstance which had forced itself on
my notice shortly before Meunier's arrival； namely； that there had been
some quarrel between Bertha and this maid； apparently during a visit to a
distant family； in which she had acpanied her mistress。 I had
overheard Archer speaking in a tone of bitter insolence； which I should
have thought an adequate reason for immediate dismissal。 No dismissal
followed； on the contrary； Bertha seemed to be silently putting up with
personal inconveniences from the exhibitions of this woman's temper。 I
was the more astonished to observe that her illness seemed a cause of
strong solicitude to Bertha； that she was at the bedside night and day； and
would allow no one else to officiate as head…nurse。 It happened that our
family doctor was out on a holiday； an accident which made Meunier's
presence in the house doubly wele； and he apparently entered into the
case with an interest which seemed so much stronger than the ordinary
professional feeling； that one day when he had fallen into a long fit of
silence after visiting her； I said to him …
〃Is this a very peculiar case of disease； Meunier？〃
〃No；〃 he answered； 〃it is an attack of peritonitis； which will be fatal；
but which does not differ physically from many other cases that have
e under my observation。 But I'll tell you what I have on my mind。
I want to make an experiment on this woman； if you will give me
permission。 It can do her no harmwill give her no painfor I shall not
make it until life is extinct to all purposes of sensation。 I want to try the
effect of transfusing blood into her arteries after the heart has ceased to
beat for some minutes。 I have tried the experiment again and again with
animals that have died of this disease； with astounding results； and I want
to try it on a human subject。 I have the small tubes necessary； in a case I
have with me； and the rest of the apparatus could be prepared readily。 I
should use my own bloodtake it from my own arm。 This woman won't
live through the night； I'm convinced； and I want you to promise me your
assistance in making the experiment。 I can't do without another hand； but
it would perhaps not be well to call in a medical assistant from among
your provincial doctors。 A disagreeable foolish version of the thing
might get abroad。〃
〃Have you spoken to my wife on the subject？〃 I said； 〃because she
appears to be peculiarly sensitive about this woman： she has been a
favourite maid。〃
〃To tell you the truth；〃 said Meunier； 〃I don't want her to know about it。
There are always insuperable difficulties with women in these matters； and
the effect on the supposed dead body may be startling。 You and I will sit
up together； and be in readiness。 When certain symptoms appear I shall
take you in； and at the right moment we must manage to get every one else
out of the room。〃
I need not give our farther conversation on the subject。 He entered
very fully into the details； and overcame my repulsion from them； by
exciting in me a mingled awe and curiosity concerning the possible results
of his experiment。
We prepared everything； and he instructed me in my part as assistant。
He had not told Bertha of his absolute conviction that Archer would not
survive through the night； and endeavoured to persuade her to leave the
patient and take a night's rest。 But she was obstinate； suspecting the fact
that death was at hand； and supposing that he wished merely to save her
nerves。 She refused to leave the sick…room。 Meunier and I sat up
together in the libr