Луна и грош

Chapter LV

           Thedoctor,wonderingirritablywhytheybehavedsostrangely,entered,andtherefoundStricklandcleaninghispalette.Therewasapictureontheeasel.Strickland,cladonlyinapareo,wasstandingwithhisbacktothedoor,butheturnedroundwhenheheardthesoundofboots.Hegavethedoctoralookofvexation.Hewassurprisedtoseehim,andresentedtheintrusion.Butthedoctorgaveagasp,hewasrootedtothefloor,andhestaredwithallhiseyes.Thiswasnotwhatheexpected.Hewasseizedwithhorror.

           "Youenterwithoutceremony,"saidStrickland."WhatcanIdoforyou?"

           Thedoctorrecoveredhimself,butitrequiredquiteaneffortforhimtofindhisvoice.Allhisirritationwasgone,andhefelt—ehbien,oui,jeneleniepas—hefeltanoverwhelmingpity.

           "IamDr.Coutras.IwasdownatTaravaotoseethechiefess,andAtasentformetoseeyou."

           "She’sadamnedfool.Ihavehadafewachesandpainslatelyandalittlefever,butthat’snothing;itwillpassoff.NexttimeanyonewenttoPapeeteIwasgoingtosendforsomequinine."

           "Lookatyourselfintheglass."

           Stricklandgavehimaglance,smiled,andwentovertoacheapmirrorinalittlewoodenframe,thathungonthewall.

           "Well?"

           "Doyounotseeastrangechangeinyourface?Doyounotseethethickeningofyourfeaturesandalook—howshallIdescribeit?—thebookscallitlion-faced.Monpauvreami,mustItellyouthatyouhaveaterribledisease?"

           "I?"

           "Whenyoulookatyourselfintheglassyouseethetypicalappearanceoftheleper."

           "Youarejesting,"saidStrickland.

           "IwishtoGodIwere.

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