a simpleton-第41章

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the　contents　on　his　table。

They　were　dazzling。　　A　great　many　large　pieces　of　amethyst；　and
some　of　white　topaz　and　rock　crystal；　a　large　number　of　smaller
stones；　carbuncles；　chrysolites；　and　not　a　few　emeralds。　　Dodd
looked　at　them　with　pleasure；　sparkling　in　the　lamplight。

〃What　a　lot！〃　said　he。　　〃I　wonder　what　they　are　worth！〃　　He　sent
for　the　first　mate；　who；　he　knew；　did　a　little　private　business　in
precious　stones。　　〃Masterton；〃　said　he；　〃oblige　me　by　counting
these　stones　with　me；　and　valuing　them。〃

Mr。　Masterton　stared；　and　his　mouth　watered。　　However；　he　named　the
various　stones　and　valued　them。　　He　said　there　was　one　stone；　a
large　emerald；　without　a　flaw；　that　was　worth　a　heavy　sum　by
itself；　and　the　pearls；　very　fine：　and　looking　at　the　great　number；
they　must　be　worth　a　thousand　pounds。

Captain　Dodd　then　entered　the　whole　business　carefully　in　the
ship's　log：　the　living　man　he　described　thus：　〃About　five　feet　six
in　height；　and　about　fifty　years　of　age。〃　　Then　he　described　the
notes　and　the　stones　very　exactly；　and　made　Masterton；　the　valuer；
sign　the　log。

Staines　took　a　good　deal　of　egg…flip　that　night；　and　next　day　ate
solid　food；　but　they　questioned　him　in　vain；　his　reason　was
entirely　in　abeyance：　he　had　become　an　eater；　and　nothing　else。
Whenever　they　gave　him　food；　he　showed　a　sort　of　fawning　animal
gratitude。　　Other　sentiment　he　had　none；　nor　did　words　enter　his
mind　any　more　than　a　bird's。　　And　since　it　is　not　pleasant　to　dwell
on　the　wreck　of　a　fine　understanding；　I　will　only　say　that　they
landed　him　at　Cape　Town；　out　of　bodily　danger；　but　weak；　and　his
mind；　to　all　appearance；　a　hopeless　blank。

They　buried　the　skeleton；read　the　service　of　the　English　Church
over　a　Malabar　heathen。

Dodd　took　Staines　to　the　hospital；　and　left　twenty　pounds　with　the
governor　of　it　to　cure　him。　　But　he　deposited　Staines's　money　and
jewels　with　a　friendly　banker；　and　begged　that　the　principal
cashier　might　see　the　man；　and　be　able　to　recognize　him；　should　he
apply　for　his　own。

The　cashier　came　and　examined　him；　and　also　the　ruby　ring　on　his
fingera　parting　gift　from　Rosaand　remarked　this　was　a　new　way
of　doing　business。

〃Why；　it　is　the　only　one；　sir；〃　said　Dodd。　　〃How　can　we　give　you
his　signature？　　He　is　not　in　his　right　mind。〃

〃Nor　never　will　be。〃

〃Don't　say　that；　sir。　　Let　us　hope　for　the　best；　poor　fellow。〃

Having　made　these　provisions；　the　worthy　captain　weighed　anchor；
with　a　warm　heart　and　a　good　conscience。　　Yet　the　image　of　the　man
he　had　saved　pursued　him；　and　he　resolved　to　look　after　him　next
time　he　should　coal　at　Cape　Town；　homeward　bound。

Staines　recovered　his　strength　in　about　two　months；　but　his　mind
returned　in　fragments；　and　very　slowly。　　For　a　long；　long　time　he
remembered　nothing　that　had　preceded　his　great　calamity。　　His　mind
started　afresh；　aided　only　by　certain　fixed　habits；　for　instance；
he　could　read　and　write：　but；　strange　as　it　may　appear；　he　had　no
idea　who　he　was；　and　when　his　memory　cleared　a　little　on　that　head；
he　thought　his　surname　was　Christie；　but　he　was　not　sure。

Nevertheless；　the　presiding　physician　discovered　in　him　a　certain
progress　of　intelligence；　which　gave　him　great　hopes。　　In　the　fifth
month；　having　shown　a　marked　interest　in　the　other　sick　patients；
coupled　with　a　disposition　to　be　careful　and　attentive；　they　made
him　a　nurse；　or　rather　a　sub…nurse　under　the　special　orders　of　a
responsible　nurse。　　I　really　believe　it　was　done　at　first　to　avoid
the　alternative　of　sending　him　adrift；　or　transferring　him　to　the
insane　ward　of　the　hospital。　　In　this　congenial　pursuit　he　showed
such　watchfulness　and　skill；　that　by　and　by　they　found　they　had　got
a　treasure。　　Two　months　after　that　he　began　to　talk　about　medicine；
and　astonished　them　still　more。　　He　became　the　puzzle　of　the
establishment。　　The　doctor　and　surgeon　would　converse　with　him；　and
try　and　lead　him　to　his　past　life；　but　when　it　came　to　that；　he
used　to　put　his　hands　to　his　head　with　a　face　of　great　distress；
and　it　was　clear　some　impassable　barrier　lay　between　his　growing
intelligence　and　the　past　events　of　his　life。　　Indeed；　on　one
occasion；　he　said　to　his　kind　friend　the　doctor；　〃The　past！a
black　wall！　a　black　wall！〃

Ten　months　after　his　admission　he　was　promoted　to　be　an　attendant；
with　a　salary。

He　put　by　every　shilling　of　it；　for　he　said；　〃A　voice　from　the　dark
past　tells　me　money　is　everything　in　this　world。〃

A　discussion　was　held　by　the　authorities　as　to　whether　he　should　be
informed　he　had　money　and　jewels　at　the　bank　or　not。

Upon　the　whole；　it　was　thought　advisable　to　postpone　this
information；　lest　he　should　throw　it　away；　but　they　told　him　he　had
been　picked　up　at　sea；　and　both　money　and　jewels　found　on　him；　they
were　in　safe　hands；　only　the　person　was　away　for　the　time。　　Still；
he　was　not　to　look　upon　himself　as　either　friendless　or　moneyless。

At　this　communication　he　showed　an　almost　childish　delight；　that
confirmed　the　doctor　in　his　opinion　he　was　acting　prudently；　and
for　the　real　benefit　of　an　amiable　and　afflicted　person；　not　yet　to
be　trusted　with　money　and　jewels。


CHAPTER　XVII。


In　his　quality　of　attendant　on　the　sick；　Staines　sometimes
conducted　a　weak　but　convalescent　patient　into　the　open　air；　and　he
was　always　pleased　to　do　this；　for　the　air　of　the　Cape　carries
health　and　vigor　on　its　wings。　　He　had　seen　its　fine　recreative
properties；　and　he　divined；　somehow；　that　the　minds　of
convalescents　ought　to　be　amused；　and　so　he　often　begged　the　doctor
to　let　him　take　a　convalescent　abroad。　　Sooner　than　not；　he　would
draw　the　patient　several　miles　in　a　Bath　chair。　　He　rather　liked
this；　for　he　was　a　Hercules；　and　had　no　egotism　or　false　pride
where　the　sick　were　concerned。

Now；　these　open…air　walks　exerted　a　beneficial　influence　on　his　own
darkened　mind。　　It　is　one　thing　to　struggle　from　idea　to　idea；　it
is　another　when　material　objects　mingle　with　the　retrospect；　they
seem　to　supply　stepping…stones　in　the　gradual　resuscitation　of
memory　and　reason。

The　ships　going　out　of　port　were　such　a　steppingstone　to　him；　and　a
vague　consciousness　came　back　to　him　of　having　been　in　a　ship。

Unfortunately；　along　with　this　reminiscence　came　a　desire　to　go　in
one　again；　and　this　sowed　discontent　in　his　mind；　and　the　more　that
mind　enlarged；　the　more　he　began　to　dislike　the　hospital　and　its
confinement。　　The　feeling　grew；　and　bade　fair　to　disqualify　him　for
his　humble　office。　　The　authorities　could　not　fail　to　hear　of　this；
and　they　had　a　little　discussion　about　parting　with　him；　but　they
hesitated　to　turn　him　adrift；　and　they　still　doubted　the　propriety
of　trusting　him　with　money　and　jewels。

While　matters　were　in　this　state　a　remarkable　event　occurred。　　He
drew　a　sick　patient　down　to　the　quay　one　morning；　and　watched　the
business　of　the　port　with　the　keenest　interest。　　A　ship　at　anchor
was　unloading；　and　a　great　heavy　boat　was　sticking　to　her　side　like
a　black　leech。　　Presently　this　boat　came　away；　and　moved　sluggishly
towards　the　shore；　rather　by　help　of　the　tide　than　of　the　two　men
who　went　through　the　form　of　propelling　her　with　two　monstrous
sweeps；　while　a　third　steered　her。　　She　contained　English　goods：
agricultural　implements；　some　cases；　four　horses；　and　a　buxom　young
woman　with　a　thorough　English　face。　　The　woman　seemed　a　little
excited；　and　as　she　neared　the　landing…place；　she　called　out　in
jocund　tones　to　a　young　man　on　the　shore；　〃It　is　all　right；　Dick；
they　are　beauties；〃　and　she　patted　the　beasts　as　people　do　who　are
fond　of　them。

She　stepped　lightly　ashore；　and　then　came　the　slower　work　of
landing　her　imports。　　She　bustled　about；　like　a　hen　over　her　brood；
and　wasn't　always　talking；　but　put　in　her　word　every　now　and　then；
never　crossly；　and　always　to　the　point。

Staines　listened　to　her；　and　examined　her　with　a　sort　of　puzzled
look；　but　she　took　no　notice　of　him；　her　whole　soul　was　in　the
cattle。

They　got　the　things　on　board　well　enough；　but　the　horses　were
frightened　at　the　gangway；　and　jibbed。　　Then　a　man　was　for　driving
them；　and　poked　one　of　them　in　the　quarter；　he　snorted　and　reared
directly。

〃Man　alive！〃　cried　the　young　woman；　〃that　is　not　the　way。　　They　are
docile　enough；　but　frightened。　　Encourage　'em；　and　let　'em　look　at
it。　　Give　'em　time。　　More　haste　less　speed；　with　timorous　cattle。〃

〃That　is　a　very　pleasant　voice；〃　said　poor　Staines；　rather　more
dictatorially　than　became　the　present　state　of　his　intellect。　　He
added　softly；　〃a　true　woman's　voice；〃　then　gloomily；　〃a　voice　of
the　pastthe　dark；　dark　past。〃

At　this　speech　intruding　itself　upon　the　short　sentences　of
business；　there　was　a　roar　of　laughter；　and　Phoebe　Falcon　turned
sharply　round　to　look　at　the　speaker。　　She　stared　at　him；　she　cried
〃Oh！〃　and　clasped　her　hands；　and　colored　all　over。　　〃Why；　sure；〃
said　she；　〃I　can't　be　mistook。　　Those　eyes'tis　you；　doctor；　isn't
it？〃

〃Doctor？〃　said　Staines；　with　a　puzzled　look。　　〃Yes；　I　think　they
called　me　doctor　once。　　I'm　an　attendant　in　the　hospital　now。〃

〃Dick！〃　cried　Phoebe；　in　no　little　agitation。　　〃Come　here　this
minute。〃

〃What；　afore　I　get　the　horses　ashore？〃

〃Ay；　before　you　do　another　thing；　or　say　another　word。　　Come　here；
now。〃　　So　he　came；　and　she　told　him　to　take　a　good　look　at　the　man。
〃Now；〃　said　she；　〃who　is　that？〃

〃Blest　if　I　know；〃　said　he。

〃What；　not　know　the　man　who　saved　your　own　life！　　Oh；　Dick；　what
are　your　eyes　worth？〃

This　discourse　brought　the　few　persons　within　hearing　into　one　band
of　excited　starers。

Dick　took　a　good　look；　and　said；　〃I'm　blest　if　I　don't；　though；　it
is　the　doctor　that　cut　my　throat。〃

This　strange　statement　drew　forth　quite　a　shout　of　ejaculations。

〃Oh；　better　breathe　through　a　slit　than　not　at　all；〃　said　Dick。
〃Saved　my　life　with　that　cut；　he　did；　didn't　he；　Pheeb？〃

〃That　he　did；　Dick。　　Dear　heart；　I　hardly　know　whether　I　am　in　my
senses　or　not；　seeing　him　a…looking　so　blank。　　You　try　him。〃

Dick　came　forward。　　〃Sure　you　remember　me；　sir。　　Dick　Dale。　　You
cut　my　throat；　and　saved　my　life。〃

〃Cut　your　throat！　why；　that　would　kill　you。〃

〃Not　the　way　you　done　it。　　Well；　sir；　you　ain't　the　man　you　was；
that　is　clear；　but　you　was　a　good　friend　to　me；　and　there's　my
hand。〃

〃Thank　you；　Dick；〃　said　Staines；　and　took　his　hand。　　〃I　don't
remember　YOU。　　Perhaps　you　are　one　of　the　past。　　The　past　is　dead
wall　to　mea　dark　dead　wall；〃　and　he　put　his　hands　to　his　head
with　a　look　of　distress。

Everybody　there　now　suspected　the　truth；　and　some　pointed
mysteriously　to　their　own　heads。

Phoebe　whispered　an　inquiry　to　the　sick　person。

He　said　a　little　pettishly；　〃All　I　know　is；　he　is　the　kindest
attendant　in　the　ward；　and　very　attentive。〃

〃Oh；　then；　he　is　in　the　public　hospital。〃

〃Of　course　he　is。〃

The　invalid；　with　the　selfishness　of　his　class；　then　begged　Staines
to　take　him　out　of　all　this　bustle　down　to　the　beach。　　Staines
complied　at　once；　with　the　utmost　meekness；　and　said；　〃Good…by；　old
friends；　forgive　me　for　not　remembering　you。　　It　is　my　great
affliction　that　the　past　is　gone　from　megone；　gone。〃　　And　he　went
sadly　away；　drawing　his　sick　charge　like　a　patient　mule。

Phoebe　Falcon　looked　after　him；　and