round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第21章
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chair he plunged back into his work。
There was little scandal about this singular domestic incident。 The
Professor had few personal friends； and seldom went into society。 His
marriage had been so quiet that most of his colleagues had never ceased to
regard him as a bachelor。 Mrs。 Esdaile and a few others might talk； but
their field for gossip was limited； for they could only guess vaguely at the
cause of this sudden separation。
The Professor was as punctual as ever at his classes； and as zealous in
directing the laboratory work of those who studied under him。 His own
private researches were pushed on with feverish energy。 It was no
uncommon thing for his servants； when they came down of a morning； to
hear the shrill scratchings of his tireless pen； or to meet him on the
staircase as he ascended； grey and silent； to his room。 In vain his friends
assured him that such a life must undermine his health。 He lengthened
his hours until day and night were one long； ceaseless task。
Gradually under this discipline a change came over his appearance。
His features； always inclined to gauntness； became even sharper and more
pronounced。 There were deep lines about his temples and across his
brow。 His cheek was sunken and his complexion bloodless。 His knees
gave under him when he walked； and once when passing out of his
lecture… room he fell and had to be assisted to his carriage。
This was just before the end of the session and soon after the holidays
commenced the professors who still remained in Birchespool were
shocked to hear that their brother of the chair of physiology had sunk so
low that no hopes could be entertained of his recovery。 Two eminent
physicians had consulted over his case without being able to give a name
to the affection from which he suffered。 A steadily decreasing vitality
appeared to be the only symptom a bodily weakness which left the mind
unclouded。 He was much interested himself in his own case； and made
notes of his subjective sensations as an aid to diagnosis。 Of his
approaching end he spoke in his usual unemotional and somewhat
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pedantic fashion。 〃It is the assertion；〃 he said； 〃of the liberty of the
individual cell as opposed to the cell…commune。 It is the dissolution of a
co…operative society。 The process is one of great interest。〃
And so one grey morning his co…operative society dissolved。 Very
quietly and softly he sank into his eternal sleep。 His two physicians felt
some slight embarrassment when called upon to fill in his certificate。
〃It is difficult to give it a name；〃 said one。
〃Very；〃 said the other。
〃If he were not such an unemotional man； I should have said that he
had died from some sudden nervous shockfrom； in fact； what the vulgar
would call a broken heart。〃
〃I don't think poor Grey was that sort of a man at all。〃
〃Let us call it cardiac； anyhow；〃 said the older physician。
So they did so。
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THE CASE OF LADY SANNOX。
The relations between Douglas Stone and the notorious Lady Sannox
were very well known both among the fashionable circles of which she
was a brilliant member； and the scientific bodies which numbered him
among their most illustrious confreres。 There was naturally； therefore； a
very widespread interest when it was announced one morning that the lady
had absolutely and for ever taken the veil； and that the world would see
her no more。 When； at the very tail of this rumour； there came the
assurance that the celebrated operating surgeon； the man of steel nerves；
had been found in the morning by his valet； seated on one side of his bed；
smiling pleasantly upon the universe； with both legs jammed into one side
of his breeches and his great brain about as valuable as a cap full of
porridge； the matter was strong enough to give quite a little thrill of
interest to folk who had never hoped that their jaded nerves were capable
of such a sensation。
Douglas Stone in his prime was one of the most remarkable men in
England。 Indeed； he could hardly be said to have ever reached his prime；
for he was but nine…and…thirty at the time of this little incident。 Those
who knew him best were aware that； famous as he was as a surgeon； he
might have succeeded with even greater rapidity in any of a dozen lines of
life。 He could have cut his way to fame as a soldier； struggled to it as an
explorer； bullied for it in the courts； or built it out of stone and iron as an
engineer。 He was born to be great； for he could plan what another man
dare not do； and he could do what another man dare not plan。 In surgery
none could follow him。 His nerve； his judgment； his intuition； were
things apart。 Again and again his knife cut away death； but grazed the
very springs of life in doing it； until his assistants were as white as the
patient。 His energy； his audacity； his full…blooded self…confidencedoes
not the memory of them still linger to the south of Marylebone Road and
the north of Oxford Street？
His vices were as magnificent as his virtues； and infinitely more
picturesque。 Large as was his income； and it was the third largest of all
professional men in London； it was far beneath the luxury of his living。
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Deep in his complex nature lay a rich vein of sensualism； at the sport of
which he placed all the prizes of his life。 The eye； the ear； the touch； the
palateall were his masters。 The bouquet of old vintages； the scent of
rare exotics； the curves and tints of the daintiest potteries of Europeit
was to these that the quick… running stream of gold was transformed。
And then there came his sudden mad passion for Lady Sannox； when a
single interview with two challenging glances and a whispered word set
him ablaze。 She was the loveliest woman in London； and the only one to
him。 He was one of the handsomest men in London； but not the only one
to her。 She had a liking for new experiences； and was gracious to most
men who wooed her。 It may have been cause or it may have been effect
that Lord Sannox looked fifty； though he was but six…and…thirty。
He was a quiet； silent； neutral…tinted man； this lord； with thin lips and
heavy eyelids； much given to gardening； and full of home…like habits。 He
had at one time been fond of acting； had even rented a theatre in London；
and on its boards had first seen Miss Marion Dawson； to whom he had
offered his hand； his title； and the third of a county。 Since his marriage
this early hobby had become distasteful to him。 Even in private
theatricals it was no longer possible to persuade him to exercise the talent
which he had often shown that he possessed。 He was happier with a spud
and a watering…can among his orchids and chrysanthemums。
It was quite an interesting problem whether he was absolutely devoid
of sense； or miserably wanting in spirit。 Did he know his lady's ways and
condone them； or was he a mere blind； doting fool？ It was a point to be
discussed over the teacups in snug little drawing…rooms； or with the aid of
a cigar in the bow windows of clubs。 Bitter and plain were the comments
among men upon his conduct。 There was but one who had a good word
to say for him； and he was the most silent member in the smoking…room。
He had seen him break in a horse at the university； and it seemed to have
left an impression upon his mind。
But when Douglas Stone became the favourite； all doubts as to Lord
Sannox's knowledge or ignorance were set for ever at rest。 There； was no
subterfuge about Stone。 In his high…handed； impetuous fashion； he set all
caution and discretion at defiance。 The scandal became notorious。 A
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learned body intimated that his name had been struck from the list of its
vice…presidents。 Two friends implored him to consider his professional
credit。 He cursed them all three； and spent forty guineas on a bangle to
take with him to the lady。 He was at her house every evening； and she
drove in his carriage in the afternoons。 There was not an attempt on
either side to conceal their relations； but there came at last a little incident
to interrupt them。
It was a dismal winter's night； very cold and gusty； with the wind
whooping in the chimneys and blustering against the window…panes。 A
thin spatter of rain tinkled on the glass with each fresh sough of the gale；
drowning for the instant the dull gurgle and drip from the eves。 Douglas
Stone had finished his dinner； and sat by his fire in the study； a glass of
rich port upon the malachite table at his elbow。 As he raised it to his lips；
he held it up against the lamplight； and watched with the eye of a
connoisseur the tiny scales of beeswing which floated in its rich ruby
depths。 The fire； as it spurted up； threw fitful lights upon his bold； clear…
cut face； with its widely…opened grey eyes； its thick and yet firm lips； and
the deep； square jaw； which had something Roman in its strength and its
animalism。 He smiled from time to time as he nestled back in his
luxurious chair。 Indeed； he had a right to feel well pleased； for； against
the advice of six colleagues； he had performed an operation
