the adventure of the blanced soldier-第5部分

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contracted　it。　His　people　would　be　placed　in　a　very　dreadful　position；

since　they　would　desire　to　save　him　from　segregation。　Great　secrecy

would　be　needed　to　prevent　rumours　from　getting　about　and　subsequent

interference　by　the　authorities。　A　devoted　medical　man；　if

sufficiently　paid；　would　easily　be　found　to　take　chance　of　the

sufferer。　There　would　be　no　reason　why　the　latter　should　not　he

allowed　freedom　after　dark。　Bleaching　of　the　skin　is　a　common　result

of　the　disease。　The　case　was　a　strong　one…　so　strong　that　I　determined

to　act　as　if　it　were　actually　proved。　When　on　arriving　here　I

noticed　that　Ralph；　who　carries　out　the　meals；　had　gloves　which　are

impregnated　with　disinfectants；　my　last　doubts　were　removed。　A

single　word　showed　you；　sir；　that　your　secret　was　discovered；　and　if　I

wrote　rather　than　said　it；　it　was　to　prove　to　you　that　my　discretion

was　to　be　trusted。〃

　　I　was　finishing　this　little　analysis　of　the　case　when　the　door　was

opened　and　the　austere　figure　of　the　great　dermatologist　was　ushered

in。　But　for　once　his　sphinx…like　features　had　relaxed　and　there　was

a　warm　humanity　in　his　eyes。　He　strode　up　to　Colonel　Emsworth　and

shook　him　by　the　hand。

　　〃It　is　often　my　lot　to　bring　ill…tidings　and　seldom　good；〃　said

he。　〃This　occasion　is　the　more　welcome。　It　is　not　leprosy。〃

　　〃A　well…marked　case　of　pseudo…leprosy　or　ichthyosis；　a　scale…like

affection　of　the　skin；　unsightly；　obstinate；　but　possibly　curable；　and

certainly　noninfective。　Yes；　Mr。　Holmes；　the　coincidence　is　a

remarkable　one。　But　is　it　coincidence？　Are　there　not　subtle　forces

at　work　of　which　we　know　little？　Are　we　assured　that　the

apprehension　from　which　this　young　man　has　no　doubt　suffered

terribly　since　his　exposure　to　its　contagion　may　not　produce　a

physical　effect　which　simulates　that　which　it　fears？　At　any　rate；　I

pledge　my　professional　reputation…　But　the　lady　has　fainted！　I　think

that　Mr。　Kent　had　better　be　with　her　until　she　recovers　from　this

joyous　shock。〃





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…THE　END…

。