Луна и грош

Chapter LV

           "

           "DoyouintendtotellmethatIhaveleprosy?"

           "Unfortunately,therecanbenodoubtofit."

           Dr.Coutrashaddeliveredsentenceofdeathonmanymen,andhecouldneverovercomethehorrorwithwhichitfilledhim.Hefeltalwaysthefurioushatredthatmustseizeamancondemnedwhenhecomparedhimselfwiththedoctor,saneandhealthy,whohadtheinestimableprivilegeoflife.Stricklandlookedathiminsilence.Nothingofemotioncouldbeseenonhisface,disfiguredalreadybytheloathsomedisease.

           "Dotheyknow?"heaskedatlast,pointingtothepersonsontheverandah,nowsittinginunusual,unaccountablesilence.

           "Thesenativesknowthesignssowell,"saidthedoctor."Theywereafraidtotellyou."

           Stricklandsteppedtothedoorandlookedout.Theremusthavebeensomethingterribleinhisface,forsuddenlytheyallburstoutintoloudcriesandlamentation.Theylifteduptheirvoicesandtheywept.Stricklanddidnotspeak.Afterlookingatthemforamoment,hecamebackintotheroom.

           "HowlongdoyouthinkIcanlast?"

           "Whoknows?Sometimesthediseasecontinuesfortwentyyears.Itisamercywhenitrunsitscoursequickly."

           Stricklandwenttohiseaselandlookedreflectivelyatthepicturethatstoodonit.

           "Youhavehadalongjourney.Itisfittingthatthebearerofimportanttidingsshouldberewarded.Takethispicture.Itmeansnothingtoyounow,butitmaybethatonedayyouwillbegladtohaveit."

           Dr.Coutrasprotestedthatheneedednopaymentforhisjourney;hehadalreadygivenbacktoAtathehundred-francnote,butStricklandinsistedthatheshouldtakethepicture.

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