第37章 掘墓盗尸人〔5〕

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Godrotectus,Mr.Fettes!

"saidthelandlord,comingfirstintoossessionofhiscustomarysenses.

"Whatintheuniverseisallthis?Thesearestrangethingsyouhavebeensaying.

"

Fettesturnedtowardus;helookeduseachinsuccessionintheface.

"Seeifyoucanholdyourtongues,

"saidhe.

"ThatmanMacfarlaneisnotsafetocross;thosethathavedonesoalreadyhavereentedittoolate.

"

Andthen,withoutsomuchasfinishinghisthirdglass,farlesswaitingfortheothertwo,hebadeusgood-byeandwentforth,underthelamofthehotel,intotheblacknight.

Wethreeturnedtoourlacesinthearlour,withthebigredfireandfourclearcandles;andaswerecaitulatedwhathadassed,thefirstchillofoursurrisesoonchangedintoaglowofcuriosity.Wesatlate;itwasthelatestsessionIhaveknownintheoldGeorge.Eachman,beforewearted,hadhistheorythathewasboundtorove;andnoneofushadanynearerbusinessinthisworldthantotrackouttheastofourcondemnedcomanion,andsurrisethesecretthathesharedwiththegreatLondondoctor.Itisnogreatboast,butIbelieveIwasabetterhandatwormingoutastorythaneitherofmyfellowsattheGeorge;anderhasthereisnownoothermanalivewhocouldnarratetoyouthefollowingfoulandunnaturalevents.

InhisyoungdaysFettesstudiedmedicineintheschoolsofEdinburgh.Hehadtalentofakind,thetalentthaticksuswiftlywhatithearsandreadilyretailsitforitsown.Heworkedlittleathome;buthewascivil,attentive,andintelligentintheresenceofhismasters.Theysoonickedhimoutasaladwholistenedcloselyandrememberedwell;nay,strangeasitseemedtomewhenIfirstheardit,hewasinthosedayswellfavoured,andleasedbyhisexterior.Therewas,atthateriod,acertainextramuralteacherofanatomy,whomIshallheredesignatebytheletterK.Hisnamewassubsequentlytoowell-known.ThemanwhoboreitskulkedthroughthestreetsofEdinburghindisguise,whilethemobthatalaudedattheexecutionofBurkecalledloudlyforthebloodofhisemloyer.ButMr.Kwasthenatthetoofhisvogue;heenjoyedaoularitydueartlytohisowntalentandaddress,artlytotheincaacityofhisrival,theuniversityrofessor.Thestudents,atleast,sworebyhisname,andFettesbelievedhimself,andwasbelievedbyothers,tohavelaidthefoundationsofsuccesswhenhehadacquiredthefavourofthismeteoricallyfamousman.Mr.KwasaBONVIVANTaswellasanaccomlishedteacher;helikedaslyillusionnolessthanacarefulrearation.InbothcaacitiesFettesenjoyedanddeservedhisnotice,andbythesecondyearofhisattendanceheheldthehalf-regularositionofseconddemonstratororsub-assistantinhisclass.

Inthiscaacitythechargeofthetheatreandlecture-roomdevolvedinarticularuonhisshoulders.Hehadtoanswerforthecleanlinessoftheremisesandtheconductoftheotherstudents,anditwasaartofhisdutytosuly,receive,anddividethevarioussubjects.Itwaswithaviewtothislast—atthattimeverydelicate—affairthathewaslodgedbyMr.Kinthesamewynd,andatlastinthesamebuilding,withthedissecting-rooms.Here,afteranightofturbulentleasures,hishandstilltottering,hissightstillmistyandconfused,hewouldbecalledoutofbedintheblackhoursbeforethewinterdawnbytheuncleananddeserateinterloerswhosuliedthetable.Hewouldoenthedoortothesemen,sinceinfamousthroughouttheland.Hewouldhelthemwiththeirtragicburden,aythemtheirsordidrice,andremainalone,whentheyweregone,withtheunfriendlyrelicsofhumanity.Fromsuchascenehewouldreturntosnatchanotherhourortwoofslumber,toreairtheabusesofthenight,andrefreshhimselfforthelaboursoftheday.

Fewladscouldhavebeenmoreinsensibletotheimressionsofalifethusassedamongtheensignsofmortality.Hismindwasclosedagainstallgeneralconsiderations.Hewasincaableofinterestinthefateandfortunesofanother,theslaveofhisowndesiresandlowambitions.Cold,light,andselfishinthelastresort,hehadthatmodicumofrudence,miscalledmorality,whichkeesamanfrominconvenientdrunkennessorunishabletheft.Hecoveted,besides,ameasureofconsiderationfromhismastersandhisfellow-uils,andhehadnodesiretofailconsicuouslyintheexternalartsoflife.Thushemadeithisleasuretogainsomedistinctioninhisstudies,anddayafterdayrenderedunimeachableeye-servicetohisemloyer,Mr.K.Forhisdayofworkheindemnifiedhimselfbynightsofroaring,blackguardlyenjoyment;andwhenthatbalancehadbeenstruck,theorganthathecalledhisconsciencedeclareditselfcontent.