those extraordinary twins-第12章
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doctor inspected and dressed the wounds。 Angelo now spoke out and said
he was content with the satisfaction he had got； and if the judgebut
Luigi shut him roughly up； and asked him not to make an ass of himself；
adding：
〃And I want you to stop dodging。 You take a great deal too prominent a
part in this thing for a person who has got nothing to do with it。 You
should remember that you are here only by courtesy； and are without
official recognition； officially you are not here at all； officially you
do not even exist。 To all intents and purposes you are absent from this
place； and you ought for your own modesty's sake to reflect that it
cannot become a person who is not present here to be taking this sort of
public and indecent prominence in a matter in which he is not in the
slightest degree concerned。 Now； don't dodge again； the bullets are not
for you； they are for me； if I want them dodged I will attend to it
myself。 I never saw a person act so。〃
Angelo saw the reasonableness of what his brother had said； and he did
try to reform； but it was of no use； both pistols went off at the same
instant； and he jumped once more； he got a sharp scrape along his cheek
from the judge's bullet； and so deflected Luigi's aim that his ball went
wide and chipped flake of skin from Pudd'nhead Wilson's chin。 The doctor
attended to the wounded。
By the terms； the duel was over。 But Luigi was entirely out of patience；
and begged for one exchange of shots； insisting that he had had no fair
chance； on account of his brother's indelicate behavior。 Howard was
opposed to granting so unusual a privilege； but the judge took Luigi's
part； and added that indeed he himself might fairly be considered
entitled to another trial； because although the proxy on the other side
was in no way to blame for his （the judge's） humiliatingly resultless
work； the gentleman with whom he was fighting this duel was to blame for
it； since if he had played no advantages and had held his head still； his
proxy would have been disposed of early。 He added：
〃Count Luigi's request for another exchange is another proof that he is a
brave and chivalrous gentleman； and I beg that the courtesy he asks may
be accorded him。〃
〃I thank you most sincerely for this generosity； Judge Driscoll；〃 said
Luigi； with a polite bow； and moving to his place。 Then he added to
Angelo； 〃Now hold your grip； hold your grip； I tell you； and I'll land
him sure！〃
The men stood erect； their pistol…arms at their sides； the two seconds
stood at their official posts； the doctor stood five paces in Wilson's
rear with his instruments and bandages in his hands。 The deep stillness；
the peaceful moonlight； the motionless figures； made an impressive
picture and the impending fatal possibilities augmented this
impressiveness solemnity。 Wilson's hand began to riseslowlystill
higherstill higherin another moment：
〃Boom！〃 the first stroke of midnight swung up out of the distance；
Angelo was off like a deer！
〃Oh； you unspeakable traitor！〃 wailed his brother； as they went soaring
over the fence。
The others stood astonished and gazing； and so stood； watching that
strange spectacle until distance dissolved it and swept it from their
view。 Then they rubbed their eyes like people waking out of a dream；
〃Well； I've never seen anything like that before！〃 said the judge。
〃Wilson； I am going to confess now； that I wasn't quite able to believe
in that leg business； and had a suspicion that it was a put…up
convenience between those twins； and when Count Angelo fainted I thought
I saw the whole schemethought it was pretext No。 2； and would be
followed by others till twelve o'clock should arrive； and Luigi would get
off with all the credit of seeming to want to fight and yet not have to
fight； after all。 But I was mistaken。 His pluck proved it。 He's a
brave fellow and did want to fight。〃
〃There isn't any doubt about that；〃 said Howard； and added； in a grieved
tone； 〃but what an unworthy sort of Christian that Angelo isI hope and
believe there are not many like him。 It is not right to engage in a duel
on the SabbathI could not approve of that myself； but to finish one
that has been begunthat is a duty； let the day be what it may。〃
They strolled along； still wondering； still talking。
〃It is a curious ；circumstance；〃remarked the surgeon； halting Wilson a
moment to paste so more court…plaster on his chin； which had gone to
leaking blood again； 〃that in this duel neither of the parties who
handled the pistols lost blood while nearly all the persons present in
the mere capacity of guests got hit。 I have not heard of such a thing
before。 Don't you think it unusual？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the Judge； 〃it has struck me as peculiar。 Peculiar and
unfortunate。 I was annoyed at it； all the time。 In the case of Angelo
it made no great difference； because he was in a measure concerned；
though not officially； but it troubled me to see the seconds compromised；
and yet I knew no way to mend the matter。
〃There was no way to mend it；〃 said Howard； whose ear was being
readjusted now by the doctor； 〃the code fixes our place； and it would not
have been lawful to change it。 If we could have stood at your side； or
behind you； or in front of you； itbut it would not have been legitimate
and the other parties would have had a just right to complain of our
trying to protect ourselves from danger； infractions of the code are
certainly not permissible in any case whatever。〃
Wilson offered no remarks。 It seemed to him that there was very little
place here for so much solemnity； but he judged that if a duel where
nobody was in danger or got crippled but the seconds and the outsiders
had nothing ridiculous about it for these gentlemen； his pointing out
that feature would probably not help them to see it。
He invited them in to take a nightcap； and Howard and the judge accepted；
but the doctor said he would have to go and see how Angelo's principal
wound was getting on。
＇It was now Sunday； and in the afternoon Angelo was to be received
into the Baptist communion by immersiona doubtful prospect； the
doctor feared。＇
CHAPTER VII
LUIGI DEFIES GALEN
When the doctor arrived at Aunt Patsy Cooper's house； he found the lights
going and everybody up and dressed and in a great state of solicitude and
excitement。 The twins were stretched on a sofa in the sitting…room； Aunt
Patsy was fussing at Angelo's arm； Nancy was flying around under her
commands； the two young boys were trying to keep out of the way and
always getting in it； in order to see and wonder； Rowena stood apart；
helpless with apprehension and emotion； and Luigi was growling in
unappeasable fury over Angelo's shameful flight。
As has been reported before； the doctor was a foola kind…hearted and
well…meaning one； but with no tact； and as he was by long odds the most
learned physician in the town； and was quite well aware of it； and could
talk his learning with ease and precision； and liked to show off when he
had an audience； he was sometimes tempted into revealing more of a case
than was good for the patient。
He examined Angelo's wound； and was really minded to say nothing for
once； but Aunt Patsy was so anxious and so pressing that he allowed his
caution to be overcome； and proceeded to empty himself as follows； with
scientific relish：
〃Without going too much into detail； madamfor you would probably not
understand it； anywayI concede that great care is going to be necessary
here； otherwise exudation of the esophagus is nearly sure to ensue； and
this will be followed by ossification and extradition of the maxillaris
superioris； which must decompose the granular surfaces of the great
infusorial ganglionic system； thus obstructing the action of the
posterior varioloid arteries； and precipitating compound strangulated
sorosis of the valvular tissues； and ending unavoidably in the dispersion
and combustion of the marsupial fluxes and the consequent embrocation of
the bicuspid populo redax referendum rotulorum。〃
A miserable silence followed。 Aunt Patsy's heart sank； the pallor of
despair invaded her face； she was not able to
