the lazy tour of two idle apprentices(两个闲荡徒弟的旅行)-第14章
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bed； and that he did look inside the curtains。
The man had moved。 One of his arms was outside the clothes； his
face was turned a little on the pillow； his eyelids were wide open。 Changed
as to position； and as to one of the features； the face was； otherwise；
fearfully and wonderfully unaltered。 The dead paleness and the dead
quiet were on it still
One glance showed Arthur this … one glance； before he flew
breathlessly to the door； and alarmed the house。
The man whom the landlord called 'Ben；' was the first to appear on the
stairs。 In three words； Arthur told him what had happened； and sent him
for the nearest doctor。
I； who tell you this story； was then staying with a medical friend of
mine； in practice at Doncaster； taking care of his patients for him； during
his absence in London； and I； for the time being； was the nearest doctor。
They had sent for me from the Inn； when the stranger was taken ill in the
afternoon； but I was not at home； and medical assistance was sought for
elsewhere。 When the man from The Two Robins rang the night…bell； I
was just thinking of going to bed。 Naturally enough； I did not believe a
word of his story about 'a dead man who had come to life again。'
However； I put on my hat； armed myself with one or two bottles of
restorative medicine； and ran to the Inn； expecting to find nothing more
remarkable； when I got there； than a patient in a fit。
My surprise at finding that the man had spoken the literal truth was
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almost； if not quite； equalled by my astonishment at finding myself face to
face with Arthur Holliday as soon as I entered the bedroom。 It was no
time then for giving or seeking explanations。 We just shook hands
amazedly； and then I ordered everybody but Arthur out of the room； and
hurried to the man on the bed。
The kitchen fire had not been long out。 There was plenty of hot
water in the boiler； and plenty of flannel to be had。 With these； with my
medicines； and with such help as Arthur could render under my direction； I
dragged the man； literally； out of the jaws of death。 In less than an hour
from the time when I had been called in； he was alive and talking in the
bed on which he had been laid out to wait for the Coroner's inquest。
You will naturally ask me； what had been the matter with him； and I
might treat you； in reply； to a long theory； plentifully sprinkled with； what
the children call； hard words。 I prefer telling you that； in this case； cause
and effect could not be satisfactorily joined together by any theory
whatever。 There are mysteries in life； and the condition of it； which
human science has not fathomed yet； and I candidly confess to you； that；
in bringing that man back to existence； I was； morally speaking； groping
haphazard in the dark。 I know （from the testimony of the doctor who
attended him in the afternoon） that the vital machinery； so far as its action
is appreciable by our senses； had； in this case； unquestionably stopped； and
I am equally certain （seeing that I recovered him） that the vital principle
was not extinct。 When I add； that he had suffered from a long and
complicated illness； and that his whole nervous system was utterly
deranged； I have told you all I really know of the physical condition of my
dead…alive patient at The Two Robins Inn。
When he 'came to；' as the phrase goes； he was a startling object to look
at； with his colourless face； his sunken cheeks； his wild black eyes； and his
long black hair。 The first question he asked me about himself； when he
could speak； made me suspect that I had been called in to a man in my
own profession。 I mentioned to him my surmise； and he told me that I
was right。
He said he had come last from Paris； where he had been attached to a
hospital。 That he had lately returned to England； on his way to
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Edinburgh； to continue his studies； that he had been taken ill on the
journey； and that he had stopped to rest and recover himself at Doncaster。
He did not add a word about his name； or who he was： and； of course； I
did not question him on the subject。 All I inquired； when he ceased
speaking； was what branch of the profession he intended to follow。
'Any branch；' he said； bitterly； 'which will put bread into the mouth of a
poor man。'
At this； Arthur； who had been hitherto watching him in silent curiosity；
burst out impetuously in his usual good…humoured way：…
'My dear fellow！' （everybody was 'my dear fellow' with Arthur） 'now
you have come to life again； don't begin by being down…hearted about
your prospects。 I'll answer for it； I can help you to some capital thing in
the medical line … or； if I can't； I know my father can。'
The medical student looked at him steadily。
'Thank you；' he said； coldly。 Then added； 'May I ask who your father
is？'
'He's well enough known all about this part of the country；' replied
Arthur。 'He is a great manufacturer； and his name is Holliday。'
My hand was on the man's wrist during this brief conversation。 The
instant the name of Holliday was pronounced I felt the pulse under my
fingers flutter； stop； go on suddenly with a bound； and beat afterwards； for
a minute or two； at the fever rate。
'How did you come here？' asked the stranger； quickly； excitably；
passionately almost。
Arthur related briefly what had happened from the time of his first
taking the bed at the inn。
'I am indebted to Mr。 Holliday's son then for the help that has saved
my life；' said the medical student； speaking to himself； with a singular
sarcasm in his voice。 'Come here！'
He held out； as he spoke； his long； white； bony； right hand。
'With all my heart；' said Arthur； taking the hand…cordially。 'I may
confess it now；' he continued； laughing。 'Upon my honour； you almost
frightened me out of my wits。'
The stranger did not seem to listen。 His wild black eyes were fixed
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with a look of eager interest on Arthur's face； and his long bony fingers
kept tight hold of Arthur's hand。 Young Holliday； on his side； returned
the gaze； amazed and puzzled by the medical student's odd language and
manners。 The two faces were close together； I looked at them； and； to
my amazement； I was suddenly impressed by the sense of a likeness
between them … not in features； or complexion； but solely in expression。
It must have been a strong likeness； or I should certainly not have found it
out； for I am naturally slow at detecting resemblances between faces。
'You have saved my life；' said the strange man； still looking hard in
Arthur's face； still h
