Алая буква
The Leech and His Patient
Letmeaskasyourfriend,asonehavingcharge,underProvidence,ofyourlifeandphysicalwellbeing,hathalltheoperationsofthisdisorderbeenfairlylaidopenandrecountedtome?"
"Howcanyouquestionit?"askedtheminister."Surelyitwerechild’splaytocallinaphysicianandthenhidethesore!"
"Youwouldtellme,then,thatIknowall?"saidRogerChillingworth,deliberately,andfixinganeye,brightwithintenseandconcentratedintelligence,ontheminister’sface."Beitso!Butagain!Hetowhomonlytheoutwardandphysicalevilislaidopen,knoweth,oftentimes,buthalftheevilwhichheiscalledupontocure.Abodilydisease,whichwelookuponaswholeandentirewithinitself,may,afterall,bebutasymptomofsomeailmentinthespiritualpart.Yourpardononceagain,goodsir,ifmyspeechgivetheshadowofoffence.You,sir,ofallmenwhomIhaveknown,arehewhosebodyistheclosestconjoined,andimbued,andidentified,sotospeak,withthespiritwhereofitistheinstrument."
"ThenIneedasknofurther,"saidtheclergyman,somewhathastilyrisingfromhischair."Youdealnot,Itakeit,inmedicineforthesoul!"
"Thus,asickness,"continuedRogerChillingworth,goingon,inanunalteredtone,withoutheedingtheinterruption,butstandingupandconfrontingtheemaciatedandwhite-cheekedminister,withhislow,dark,andmisshapenfigure—"asickness,asoreplace,ifwemaysocallit,inyourspirithathimmediatelyitsappropriatemanifestationinyourbodilyframe.
