"Are you ready?" finally asked the surgeon.
"Perfectly." The answer was cool and determined.
The manner of the surgeon, however, showed much perturbation. The pallor that had come into his face at the moment his decision was formed became intense. A nervous tremulousness came over his frame.
Above it all shone the light of enthusiasm.
"Have you a choice in the method?" he asked.
"Yes; extreme anaesthesia."
"With what agent?"
"The surest and quickest."
"Do you desire any--any subsequent disposition?"
"No; only nullification; simply a blowing out, as of a candle in the wind; a puff--then darkness, without a trace. A sense of your own safety may suggest the method. I leave it to you."
"No delivery to your friends?"
"None whatever."
Another pause.
"Did you say you are quite ready?" asked the surgeon.
"Quite ready."
"And perfectly willing?"
"Anxious."
"Then wait a moment."
With this request the old surgeon rose to his feet and stretched himself. Then with the stealthiness of a cat he opened the door and peered into the hall, listening intently. There was no sound. He softly closed the door and locked it. Then he closed the window-blinds and locked them. This done, he opened a door leading into an adjoining room, which, though it had no window, was lighted by means of a small skylight. The young man watched closely. A strange change had come over him. While his determination had not one whit lessened, a look of great relief came into his face, displacing the haggard, despairing look of a half-hour before. Melancholic then, he was ecstatic now.
The opening of the second door disclosed a curious sight. In the centre of the room, directly under the skylight, was an operating-table, such as is used by demonstrators of anatomy. A gla.s.s case against the wall held surgical instruments of every kind. Hanging in another case were human skeletons of various sizes. In sealed jars, arranged on shelves, were monstrosities of divers kinds preserved in alcohol. There were also, among innumerable other articles scattered about the room, a manikin, a stuffed cat, a desiccated human heart, plaster casts of various parts of the body, numerous charts, and a large a.s.sortment of drugs and chemicals. There was also a lounge, which could be opened to form a couch. The surgeon opened it and moved the operating-table aside, giving its place to the lounge.
"Come in," he called to his visitor.
The young man obeyed without the least hesitation.
"Take off your coat."
He complied.
"Lie down on that lounge."
In a moment the young man was stretched at full length, eyeing the surgeon. The latter undoubtedly was suffering under great excitement, but he did not waver; his movements were sure and quick. Selecting a bottle containing a liquid, he carefully measured out a certain quant.i.ty. While doing this he asked:
"Have you ever had any irregularity of the heart?"
"No."
The answer was prompt, but it was immediately followed by a quizzical look in the speaker"s face.
"I presume," he added, "you mean by your question that it might be dangerous to give me a certain drug. Under the circ.u.mstances, however, I fail to see any relevancy in your question."
This took the surgeon aback; but he hastened to explain that he did not wish to inflict unnecessary pain, and hence his question.
He placed the gla.s.s on a stand, approached his visitor, and carefully examined his pulse.
"Wonderful!" he exclaimed.
"Why?"
"It is perfectly normal."
"Because I am wholly resigned. Indeed, it has been long since I knew such happiness. It is not active, but infinitely sweet."
"You have no lingering desire to retract?"
"None whatever."
The surgeon went to the stand and returned with the draught.
"Take this," he said, kindly.
The young man partially raised himself and took the gla.s.s in his hand.
He did not show the vibration of a single nerve. He drank the liquid, draining the last drop. Then he returned the gla.s.s with a smile.
"Thank you," he said; "you are the n.o.blest man that lives. May you always prosper and be happy! You are my benefactor, my liberator. Bless you, bless you! You reach down from your seat with the G.o.ds and lift me up into glorious peace and rest. I love you--I love you with all my heart!"
These words, spoken earnestly, in a musical, low voice, and accompanied with a smile of ineffable tenderness, pierced the old man"s heart. A suppressed convulsion swept over him; intense anguish wrung his vitals; perspiration trickled down his face. The young man continued to smile.
"Ah, it does me good!" said he.
The surgeon, with a strong effort to control himself, sat down upon the edge of the lounge and took his visitor"s wrist, counting the pulse.
"How long will it take?" the young man asked.
"Ten minutes. Two have pa.s.sed." The voice was hoa.r.s.e.
"Ah, only eight minutes more!... Delicious, delicious! I feel it coming.... What was that?... Ah, I understand. Music.... Beautiful!...
Coming, coming.... Is that--that--water?... Trickling? Dripping?
Doctor!"
"Well?"