round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第13章
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rummaging had all combined to still further redden his face； which had
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changed from brick to beet； with a gloss of moisture on his brow。 This
extreme ruddiness brought a clue at last to the observant doctor。 Surely it
was not to be attained without alcohol。 In alcohol lay the secret of this
man's trouble。 Some little delicacy was needed； however； in showing
him that he had read his case arightthat at a glance he had penetrated to
the inmost sources of his ailments。
〃It's very hot；〃 observed the stranger； mopping his forehead。
〃Yes； it is weather which tempts one to drink rather more beer than is
good for one；〃 answered Dr。 Horace Wilkinson； looking very knowingly at
his companion from over his finger…tips。
〃Dear； dear； you shouldn't do that。〃
〃I！ I never touch beer。〃
〃Neither do I。 I've been an abstainer for twenty years。〃
This was depressing。 Dr。 Wilkinson blushed until he was nearly as
red as the other。 〃May I ask what I can do for you？〃 he asked； picking up
his stethoscope and tapping it gently against his thumb… nail。
〃Yes； I was just going to tell you。 I heard of your coming； but I
couldn't get round before〃 He broke into a nervous little cough。
〃Yes？〃 said the doctor encouragingly。
〃I should have been here three weeks ago； but you know how these
things get put off。〃 He coughed again behind his large red hand。
〃I do not think that you need say anything more；〃 said the doctor；
taking over the case with an easy air of command。 〃Your cough is quite
sufficient。 It is entirely bronchial by the sound。 No doubt the mischief
is circumscribed at present； but there is always the danger that it may
spread； so you have done wisely to come to me。 A little judicious
treatment will soon set you right。 Your waistcoat； please； but not your
shirt。 Puff out your chest and say ninety…nine in a deep voice。〃
The red…faced man began to laugh。 〃It's all right； doctor；〃 said he。
〃That cough comes from chewing tobacco； and I know it's a very bad habit。
Nine…and…ninepence is what I have to say to you； for I'm the officer of the
gas company； and they have a claim against you for that on the metre。〃
Dr。 Horace Wilkinson collapsed into his chair。 〃Then you're not a
patient？〃 he gasped。
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〃Never needed a doctor in my life； sir。〃
〃Oh； that's all right。〃 The doctor concealed his disappointment under
an affectation of facetiousness。 〃You don't look as if you troubled them
much。 I don't know what we should do if every one were as robust。 I
shall call at the company's offices and pay this small amount。〃
〃If you could make it convenient； sir； now that I am here； it would save
trouble〃
〃Oh； certainly！〃 These eternal little sordid money troubles were
more trying to the doctor than plain living or scanty food。 He took out
his purse and slid the contents on to the table。 There were two half…
crowns and some pennies。 In his drawer he had ten golden sovereigns。
But those were his rent。 If he once broke in upon them he was lost。 He
would starve first。
〃Dear me！ 〃 said he； with a smile； as at some strange； unheard…of
incident。 〃I have run short of small change。 I am afraid I shall have to
call upon the company； after all。〃
〃Very well； sir。〃 The inspector rose； and with a practised glance around；
which valued every article in the room； from the two…guinea carpet to the
eight… shilling muslin curtains； he took his departure。
When he had gone Dr。 Wilkinson rearranged his room； as was his habit
a dozen times in the day。 He laid out his large Quain's Dictionary of
Medicine in the forefront of the table so as to impress the casual patient
that he had ever the best authorities at his elbow。 Then he cleared all the
little instruments out of his pocket…casethe scissors； the forceps； the
bistouries； the lancetsand he laid them all out beside the stethoscope； to
make as good a show as possible。 His ledger； day…book； and visiting…
book were spread in front of him。 There was no entry in any of them yet；
but it would not look well to have the covers too glossy and new； so he
rubbed them together and daubed ink over them。 Neither would it be
well that any patient should observe that his name was the first in the book；
so he filled up the first page of each with notes of imaginary visits paid to
nameless patients during the last three weeks。 Having done all this； he
rested his head upon his hands and relapsed into the terrible occupation of
waiting。
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Terrible enough at any time to the young professional man； but most of
all to one who knows that the weeks； and even the days during which he
can hold out are numbered。 Economise as he would； the money would
still slip away in the countless little claims which a man never understands
until he lives under a rooftree of his own。 Dr。 Wilkinson could not deny；
as he sat at his desk and looked at the little heap of silver and coppers； that
his chances of being a successful practitioner in Sutton were rapidly
vanishing away。
And yet it was a bustling； prosperous town； with so much money in it
that it seemed strange that a man with a trained brain and dexterous
fingers should be starved out of it for want of employment。 At his desk；
Dr。 Horace Wilkinson could see the never…ending double current of people
which ebbed and flowed in front of his window。 It was a busy street； and
the air was forever filled with the dull roar of life； the grinding of the
wheels； and the patter of countless feet。 Men； women； and children；
thousands and thousands of them passed in the day； and yet each was
hurrying on upon his own business； scarce glancing at the small brass
plate； or wasting a thought upon the man who waited in the front room。
And yet how many of them would obviously； glaringly have been the
better for his professional assistance。 Dyspeptic men； anemic women；
blotched faces； bilious complexionsthey flowed past him； they needing
him； he needing them； and yet the remorseless bar of professional etiquette
kept them forever apart。 What could he do？ Could he stand at his own
front door； pluck the casual stranger by the sleeve； and whisper in his ear；
〃Sir； you will forgive me for remarking that you are suffering from a
severe attack of acne rosacea； which makes you a peculiarly unpleasant
object。 Allow me to suggest that a small prescription containing arsenic；
which will not cost you more than you often spend upon a single meal；
will be very much to your advantage。〃 Such an address would
