a simpleton-第56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 wom
