Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Black Doctor
Hehadadarkpatchoverhiseye,butourfeatureswereabsolutelythesame.Thenhesmiledinasardonicwaywhichhadbeenatrickofhisfromhisboyhood,andIknewthathewasthesamebrotherwhohaddrivenmefrommynativeland,andbroughtdisgraceuponwhathadbeenanhonourablename.IwenttothedoorandIadmittedhim.Thatwouldbeaboutteno’clockthatnight.
"Whenhecameintotheglareofthelamp,Isawatoncethathehadfallenuponveryevildays.HehadwalkedfromLiverpool,andhewastiredandill.Iwasquiteshockedbytheexpressionuponhisface.Mymedicalknowledgetoldmethattherewassomeseriousinternalmalady.Hehadbeendrinkingalso,andhisfacewasbruisedastheresultofascufflewhichhehadhadwithsomesailors.Itwastocoverhisinjuredeyethatheworethispatch,whichheremovedwhenheenteredtheroom.Hewashimselfdressedinapea-jacketandflannelshirt,andhisfeetwereburstingthroughhisboots.Buthispovertyhadonlymadehimmoresavagelyvindictivetowardsme.Hishatredrosetotheheightofamania.IhadbeenrollinginmoneyinEngland,accordingtohisaccount,whilehehadbeenstarvinginSouthAmerica.Icannotdescribetoyouthethreatswhichheutteredortheinsultswhichhepoureduponme.Myimpressionis,thathardshipsanddebaucheryhadunhingedhisreason.Hepacedabouttheroomlikeawildbeast,demandingdrink,demandingmoney,andallinthefoulestlanguage.Iamahot-temperedman,butIthankGodthatIamabletosaythatIremainedmasterofmyself,andthatIneverraisedahandagainsthim.
