Мхи старой усадьбы
The Birthmark
Shepermitsus,indeed,tomar,butseldomtomend,and,likeajealouspatentee,onnoaccounttomake.Now,however,Aylmerresumedthesehalf-forgotteninvestigations;not,ofcourse,withsuchhopesorwishesasfirstsuggestedthem;butbecausetheyinvolvedmuchphysiologicaltruthandlayinthepathofhisproposedschemeforthetreatmentofGeorgiana.
Asheledheroverthethresholdofthelaboratory,Georgianawascoldandtremulous.Aylmerlookedcheerfullyintoherface,withintenttoreassureher,butwassostartledwiththeintenseglowofthebirthmarkuponthewhitenessofhercheekthathecouldnotrestrainastrongconvulsiveshudder.Hiswifefainted.
"Aminadab!Aminadab!"shoutedAylmer,stampingviolentlyonthefloor.
Forthwiththereissuedfromaninnerapartmentamanoflowstature,butbulkyframe,withshaggyhairhangingabouthisvisage,whichwasgrimedwiththevaporsofthefurnace.ThispersonagehadbeenAylmer’sunderworkerduringhiswholescientificcareer,andwasadmirablyfittedforthatofficebyhisgreatmechanicalreadiness,andtheskillwithwhich,whileincapableofcomprehendingasingleprinciple,heexecutedallthedetailsofhismaster’sexperiments.Withhisvaststrength,hisshaggyhair,hissmokyaspect,andtheindescribableearthinessthatincrustedhim,heseemedtorepresentman’sphysicalnature;whileAylmer’sslenderfigure,andpale,intellectualface,werenolessaptatypeofthespiritualelement.
"Throwopenthedooroftheboudoir,Aminadab,"saidAylmer,"andburnapastil.
