按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
shops were all shut； and some rollicking boon companions came shouting
along from the public…house。 He stayed at the door until the stragglers
had thinned down； and then came back to his seat by the fire。 In his dim
brain he was asking himself questions which had never intruded
themselves before。 Where was the justice of it？ What had his sweet；
innocent little wife done that she should be used so？ Why was nature so
cruel？ He was frightened at his own thoughts； and yet wondered that
they had never occurred to him before。
As the early morning drew in； Johnson； sick at heart and shivering in
every limb； sat with his great coat huddled round him； staring at the grey
ashes and waiting hopelessly for some relief。 His face was white and
clammy； and his nerves had been numbed into a half conscious state by the
58
… Page 59…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
long monotony of misery。 But suddenly all his feelings leapt into keen
life again as he heard the bedroom door open and the doctor's steps upon
the stair。 Robert Johnson was precise and unemotional in everyday life；
but he almost shrieked now as he rushed forward to know if it were over。
One glance at the stern； drawn face which met him showed that it was
no pleasant news which had sent the doctor downstairs。 His appearance
had altered as much as Johnson's during the last few hours。 His hair was
on end； his face flushed； his forehead dotted with beads of perspiration。
There was a peculiar fierceness in his eye； and about the lines of his mouth；
a fighting look as befitted a man who for hours on end had been striving
with the hungriest of foes for the most precious of prizes。 But there was
a sadness too； as though his grim opponent had been overmastering him。
He sat down and leaned his head upon his hand like a man who is fagged
out。
〃I thought it my duty to see you； Mr。 Johnson； and to tell you that it is
a very nasty case。 Your wife's heart is not strong； and she has some
symptoms which I do not like。 What I wanted to say is that if you would
like to have a second opinion I shall be very glad to meet anyone whom
you might suggest。〃
Johnson was so dazed by his want of sleep and the evil news that he
could hardly grasp the doctor's meaning。 The other； seeing him hesitate；
thought that he was considering the expense。
〃Smith or Hawley would come for two guineas；〃 said he。 〃But I
think Pritchard of the City Road is the best man。〃
〃Oh； yes； bring the best man；〃 cried Johnson。
〃Pritchard would want three guineas。 He is a senior man； you see。〃
〃I'd give him all I have if he would pull her through。 Shall I run for
him？〃
〃Yes。 Go to my house first and ask for the green baize bag。 The
assistant will give it to you。 Tell him I want the A。 C。 E。 mixture。 Her
heart is too weak for chloroform。 Then go for Pritchard and bring him
back with you。〃
It was heavenly for Johnson to have something to do and to feel that
he was of some use to his wife。 He ran swiftly to Bridport Place； his
59
… Page 60…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
footfalls clattering through the silent streets and the big dark policemen
turning their yellow funnels of light on him as he passed。 Two tugs at the
night… bell brought down a sleepy； half…clad assistant； who handed him a
stoppered glass bottle and a cloth bag which contained something which
clinked when you moved it。 Johnson thrust the bottle into his pocket；
seized the green bag； and pressing his hat firmly down ran as hard as he
could set foot to ground until he was in the City Road and saw the name of
Pritchard engraved in white upon a red ground。 He bounded in triumph
up the three steps which led to the door； and as he did so there was a crash
behind him。 His precious bottle was in fragments upon the pavement。
For a moment he felt as if it were his wife's body that was lying there。
But the run had freshened his wits and he saw that the mischief might be
repaired。 He pulled vigorously at the night…bell。
〃Well； what's the matter？〃 asked a gruff voice at his elbow。 He
started back and looked up at the windows； but there was no sign of life。
He was approaching the bell again with the intention of pulling it； when a
perfect roar burst from the wall。
〃I can't stand shivering here all night；〃 cried the voice。 〃Say who you
are and what you want or I shut the tube。〃
Then for the first time Johnson saw that the end of a speaking…tube
hung out of the wall just above the bell。 He shouted up it；
〃I want you to come with me to meet Dr。 Miles at a confinement at
once。〃
〃How far？〃 shrieked the irascible voice。
〃The New North Road； Hoxton。〃
〃My consultation fee is three guineas； payable at the time。〃
〃All right；〃 shouted Johnson。 〃You are to bring a bottle of A。 C。 E。
mixture with you。〃
〃All right！ Wait a bit！〃
Five minutes later an elderly； hard…faced man； with grizzled hair； flung
open the door。 As he emerged a voice from somewhere in the shadows
cried；
〃Mind you take your cravat； John；〃 and he impatiently growled
something over his shoulder in reply。
60
… Page 61…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
The consultant was a man who had been hardened by a life of
ceaseless labour； and who had been driven； as so many others have been；
by the needs of his own increasing family to set the commercial before the
philanthropic side of his profession。 Yet beneath his rough crust he was a
man with a kindly heart。
〃We don't want to break a record；〃 said he； pulling up and panting after
attempting to keep up with Johnson for five minutes。 〃I would go
quicker if I could； my dear sir； and I quite sympathise with your anxiety；
but really I can't manage it。〃
So Johnson； on fire with impatience； had to slow down until they
reached the New North Road； when he ran ahead and had the door open
for the doctor when he came。 He heard the two meet outside the bed…
room； and caught scraps of their conversation。 〃Sorry to knock you up
nasty casedecent people。〃 Then it sank into a mumble and the door
closed behind them。
Johnson sat up in his chair now； listening keenly； for he knew that a
crisis must be at hand。 He heard the two doctors moving about； and was
able to distinguish the step of Pritchard； which had a drag in it； from the
clean； crisp sound of the other's footfall。 There was silence for a few
minutes and then a curious drunken； mumbling sing… song voice came
quavering up； very unlike anything which be had heard hitherto。 At the
same time a sweetish； insidious scent； imperceptible perhaps to any nerves
less strained than his； crept down the stairs and penetrated into the room。
The voice dwindled into a mere drone and finally sank away into silence；
and Johnson gave a long sigh of relief； for he knew that the drug had done
its work and that； come what might； there should be no more pain for the
sufferer。
But soon the silence became even more trying to him than the cries
had been。 He had no clue now as to what was going on； and his mind
swarmed with horrible possibilities。 He rose and went to the bottom of
the stairs again。 He heard the clink of metal against metal； and the
subdued murmur of the doctors' voices。 Then he heard Mrs。 Peyton say
something； in a tone as of fear or expostulation； and again the doctors
murmured together。 For twenty minutes he stood there leaning against
61
… Page 62…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
the wall； listening to the occasional rumbles of talk without being able to
catch a word of it。 And then of a sudden there rose out of the silence