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armful of bones in a mouldy box。 But his deeds they were living and
rotting the blood in the veins of an innocent man。
〃I see that you have heard of him；〃 said the young baronet。 〃He died
horribly； I have been told； but not more horribly than he had lived。 My
father was his only son。 He was a studious man； fond of books and
canaries and the country； but his innocent life did not save him。〃
〃His symptoms were cutaneous； I understand。〃
〃He wore gloves in the house。 That was the first thing I can
remember。 And then it was his throat。 And then his legs。 He used to
ask me so often about my own health； and I thought him so fussy； for how
could I tell what the meaning of it was。 He was always watching me
always with a sidelong eye fixed upon me。 Now； at last； I know what he
was watching for。〃
〃Had you brothers or sisters？〃
〃None； thank God。〃
〃Well； well； it is a sad case； and very typical of many which come in
my way。 You are no lonely sufferer； Sir Francis。 There are many
thousands who bear the same cross as you do。〃
〃But where is the justice of it； doctor？〃 cried the young man； springing
from his chair and pacing up and down the consulting…room。 〃If I were
heir to my grandfather's sins as well as to their results； I could understand
it； but I am of my father's type。 I love all that is gentle and beautiful
music and poetry and art。 The coarse and animal is abhorrent to me。
Ask any of my friends and they would tell you that。 And now that this
vile； loathsome thingach； I am polluted to the marrow； soaked in
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abomination！ And why？ Haven't I a right to ask why？ Did I do it？
Was it my fault？ Could I help being born？ And look at me now；
blighted and blasted； just as life was at its sweetest。 Talk about the sins
of the fatherhow about the sins of the Creator？〃 He shook his two
clinched hands in the airthe poor impotent atom with his pin…point of
brain caught in the whirl of the infinite。
The doctor rose and placing his hands upon his shoulders he pressed
him back into his chair once more。 〃There； there； my dear lad；〃 said he；
〃you must not excite yourself。 You are trembling all over。 Your nerves
cannot stand it。 We must take these great questions upon trust。 What
are we； after all？ Half…evolved creatures in a transition stage； nearer
perhaps to the Medusa on the one side than to perfected humanity on the
other。 With half a complete brain we can't expect to understand the
whole of a complete fact； can we； now？ It is all very dim and dark； no
doubt； but I think that Pope's famous couplet sums up the whole matter；
and from my heart； after fifty years of varied experience； I can say〃
But the young baronet gave a cry of impatience and disgust。 〃Words；
words； words！ You can sit comfortably there in your chair and say them…
…and think them too； no doubt。 You've had your life； but I've never had
mine。 You've healthy blood in your veins； mine is putrid。 And yet I am
as innocent as you。 What would words do for you if you were in this
chair and I in that？ Ah； it's such a mockery and a make…believe！ Don't
think me rude； though； doctor。 I don't mean to be that。 I only say that it
is impossible for you or any other man to realise it。 But I've a question to
ask you； doctor。 It's one on which my whole life must depend。〃 He
writhed his fingers together in an agony of apprehension。
〃Speak out； my dear sir。 I have every sympathy with you。〃
〃Do you thinkdo you think the poison has spent itself on me？ Do
you think that if I had children they would suffer？〃
〃I can only give one answer to that。 ‘The third and fourth
generation；' says the trite old text。 You may in time eliminate it from
your system； but many years must pass before you can think of marriage。〃
〃I am to be married on Tuesday；〃 whispered the patient。
It was the doctor's turn to be thrilled with horror。 There were not
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many situations which would yield such a sensation to his seasoned nerves。
He sat in silence while the babble of the card…table broke in upon them
again。 〃We had a double ruff if you had returned a heart。〃 〃I was
bound to clear the trumps。〃 They were hot and angry about it。
〃How could you？〃 cried the doctor severely。 〃It was criminal。〃
〃You forget that I have only learned how I stand to…day。〃 He put his
two hands to his temples and pressed them convulsively。 〃You are a man
of the world； Dr。 Selby。 You have seen or heard of such things before。
Give me some advice。 I'm in your hands。 It is all very sudden and
horrible； and I don't think I am strong enough to bear it。〃
The doctor's heavy brows thickened into two straight lines； and he bit
his nails in perplexity。
〃The marriage must not take place。〃
〃Then what am I to do？〃
〃At all costs it must not take place。〃
〃And I must give her up？〃
〃There can be no question about that。〃
The young man took out a pocketbook and drew from it a small
photograph； holding it out towards the doctor。 The firm face softened as
he looked at it。
〃It is very hard on you； no doubt。 I can appreciate it more now that I
have seen that。 But there is no alternative at all。 You must give up all
thought of it。〃
〃But this is madness； doctormadness； I tell you。 No； I won't raise
my voice。 I forgot myself。 But realise it； man。 I am to be married on
Tuesday。 This coming Tuesday； you understand。 And all the world
knows it。 How can I put such a public affront upon her。 It would be
monstrous。〃
〃None the less it must be done。 My dear lad； there is no way out of
it。〃
〃You would have me simply write brutally and break the engagement
at the last moment without a reason。 I tell you I couldn't do it。〃
〃I had a patient once who found himself in a somewhat similar
situation some years ago；〃 said the doctor thoughtfully。 〃His device was
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a singular one。 He deliberately committed a penal offence； and so
compelled the young lady's people to withdraw their consent to the
marriage。〃
The young baronet shook his head。 〃My personal honour is as yet
unstained；〃 said he。 〃I have little else left； but that； at least； I will
preserve。〃
〃Well； well； it is a nice dilemma； and the choice lies with you。〃
〃Have you no other suggestion？〃
〃You don't happen to have property in Australia？〃
〃None。〃
〃But you have capital？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then you could buy some。 To…morrow morning would do。 A
thousand mining shares would be enough。 Then you might write to say
that urgent business affairs have compelled you to start at an hour's notice
to inspect your property。 That would give you six months； at any rate。〃
〃Well； that would be possible。 Yes； certainly； it would be possible。
But think of her position。 The house full of wedding presentsguests
coming from a distance。 It is awful。 And you say that there is no
alternative。〃
The doctor shrugged his shoulders。
〃Well； then； I might write it now； and start to… morroweh？ Perhaps
you would let me use your desk。 Thank you。 I am so sorry to keep you
from your guests so long。 But I won't be a moment now。〃
He wrote an abrupt note