第38章 掘墓盗尸人〔6〕 (第1/2页)
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hesulyofsubjectswasacontinualtroubletohimaswellastohismaster.Inthatlargeandbusyclass,therawmaterialoftheanatomistsketeretuallyrunningout;andthebusinessthusrenderednecessarywasnotonlyunleasantinitself,butthreateneddangerousconsequencestoallwhowereconcerned.ItwastheolicyofMr.Ktoasknoquestionsinhisdealingswiththetrade.
"Theybringthebody,andweaytherice,
"heusedtosay,dwellingonthealliteration—
"QUIDPROQUO
".And,again,andsomewhatrofanely,
"Asknoquestions,
"hewouldtellhisassistants,
"forconscience'ssake.Therewasnounderstandingthatthesubjectswererovidedbythecrimeofmurder.
"Hadthatideabeenbroachedtohiminwords,hewouldhaverecoiledinhorror;butthelightnessofhisseechuonsograveamatterwas,initself,anoffenceagainstgoodmanners,andatemtationtothemenwithwhomhedealt.Fettes,forinstance,hadoftenremarkedtohimselfuonthesingularfreshnessofthebodies.Hehadbeenstruckagainandagainbythehang-dog,abominablelooksoftheruffianswhocametohimbeforethedawn;anduttingthingstogetherclearlyinhisrivatethoughts,heerhasattributedameaningtooimmoralandtoocategoricaltotheunguardedcounselsofhismaster.Heunderstoodhisduty,inshort,tohavethreebranches:totakewhatwasbrought,toaytherice,andtoaverttheeyefromanyevidenceofcrime.
OneNovembermorningthisolicyofsilencewasutsharlytothetest.Hehadbeenawakeallnightwitharackingtoothache—acinghisroomlikeacagedbeastorthrowinghimselfinfuryonhisbed—andhadfallenatlastintothatrofound,uneasyslumberthatsooftenfollowsonanightofain,whenhewasawakenedbythethirdorfourthangryreetitionoftheconcertedsignal.Therewasathin,brightmoonshine;itwasbittercold,windy,andfrosty;thetownhadnotyetawakened,butanindefinablestiralreadyreludedthenoiseandbusinessoftheday.Theghoulshadcomelaterthanusual,andtheyseemedmorethanusuallyeagertobegone.Fettes,sickwithslee,lightedthemustairs.HeheardtheirgrumblingIrishvoicesthroughadream;andastheystriedthesackfromtheirsadmerchandiseheleaneddozing,withhisshoulderroedagainstthewall;hehadtoshakehimselftofindthementheirmoney.Ashedidsohiseyeslightedonthedeadface.Hestarted;hetooktwostesnearer,withthecandleraised.
"GodAlmighty!
"hecried.
"ThatisJaneGalbraith!
"
Themenanswerednothing,buttheyshufflednearerthedoor.
"Iknowher,Itellyou,
"hecontinued.
"Shewasaliveandheartyyesterday.It'simossibleshecanbedead;it'simossibleyoushouldhavegotthisbodyfairly.
"
"Sure,sir,you'remistakenentirely,
"saidoneofthemen.
ButtheotherlookedFettesdarklyintheeyes,anddemandedthemoneyonthesot.
Itwasimossibletomisconceivethethreatortoexaggeratethedanger.Thelad'sheartfailedhim.Hestammeredsomeexcuses,countedoutthesum,andsawhishatefulvisitorsdeart.Nosoonerweretheygonethanhehastenedtoconfirmhisdoubts.Byadozenunquestionablemarksheidentifiedthegirlhehadjestedwiththedaybefore.Hesaw,withhorror,marksuonherbodythatmightwellbetokenviolence.Aanicseizedhim,andhetookrefugeinhisroom.Therehereflectedatlengthoverthediscoverythathehadmade;consideredsoberlythebearingofMr.K'sinstructionsandthedangertohimselfofinterferenceinsoseriousabusiness,andatlast,insoreerlexity,determinedtowaitfortheadviceofhisimmediatesuerior,theclassassistant.
Thiswasayoungdoctor,WolfeMacfarlane,ahighfavouriteamongalltherecklessstudents,clever,dissiated,andunscruuloustothelastdegree.Hehadtravelledandstudiedabroad.Hismannerswereagreeableandalittleforward.Hewasanauthorityonthestage,skilfulontheiceorthelinkswithskateorgolf-club;hedressedwithniceaudacity,and,toutthefinishingtouchuonhisglory,heketagigandastrongtrotting-horse.WithFetteshewasontermsofintimacy;indeed,theirrelativeositionscalledforsomecommunityoflife;andwhensubjectswerescarcetheairwoulddrivefarintothecountryinMacfarlane'sgig,visitanddesecratesomelonelygraveyard,andreturnbeforedawnwiththeirbootytothedoorofthedissecting-room.
OnthatarticularmorningMacfarlanearrivedsomewhatearlierthanhiswont.Fettesheardhim,andmethimonthestairs,toldhimhisstory,andshowedhimthecauseofhisalarm.Macfarlaneexaminedthemarksonherbody.
"Yes,
