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.Darwin nodded."Colonel Pole tells me that the situation looks grave.I have my medical chest with me back at Matthew Boulton's house.If there are drugs or dressings needed, Dr.Monkton, they can be brought here in a few minutes.""I think it may already be too late for that." They had reached the door, and Monkton paused there.He was broad shouldered, with a long neck and a red, bony face.His expression was dignified and severe."By the time Colonel Pole left here, the man was already sunk to unconsciousness.Earlier this evening there was delirium, and utterances that were peculiar indeed.I have no great hopes for him.""He is one of Bailey's farmworkers?""He is not.He is a stranger, taken ill on the road near here.The woman with him came for help to the farm.Fortunately I was already here, attending to Father Bailey's rheumatics." He shrugged."That is a hopeless case, of course, in a man of his age.""Mm.Perhaps." Darwin sounded unconvinced, but he did not press it."It was curiously opportune that you were here.So tell me, Dr.Monkton, just what is this stranger's condition?""Desperate.You will see it for yourself," he went on at Darwin's audible grunt of dissatisfaction."He lies on a cot at the back of the scullery.""Alone? Surely not?""No.His companion is with him.I explained to her that his condition is grave, and she seemed to comprehend well enough for one of her station." He set the lantern on a side table in the entrance and took a great pinch of snuff from a decorated ivory box."Neither one of them showed much sign of learning.They are poor workers from the North, on their way to London to seek employment.She seemed more afraid of me than worried about her man's condition.""So I ask again, what is that condition?" Darwin's voice showed his exasperation."It would be better for you to give me your assessment out of their hearing—though I gather that he is hearing little enough.""He hears nothing, not if lightning were to strike this house.His condition, in summary: the eyes deep-set in the head, closed, the whites only showing in the ball; the countenance, dull and grey; skin, rough and dry to the touch; before he became delirious he complained that he was feeling bilious.""There was vomiting?""No, but he spoke of the feeling.And of pain in the chest.His muscle tone was poor and I detected weakened irritability."Darwin grunted skeptically, causing Monkton to look at him in a condescending way."Perhaps you are unfamiliar with von Haller's work on this, Dr.Darwin? I personally find it to be most convincing.At any rate, soon after I came to him the delirium began.""And what of his pulse?" Darwin's face showed his concentration."And was there fever?"Monkton hesitated for a moment, as though unsure what to answer."There was no fever," he said at last."And I do not think that the pulse was elevated in rate.""Huh." Darwin pursed his full lips."No fever, no rapid pulse—and yet delirium." He turned to the other man."Colonel Pole, did you also see this?""I did indeed." Pole nodded vigorously."Look here, I know it may be the custom of the medical profession to talk about symptoms until the patient is past saving—but don't you think you should see the man for yourself, while he's alive?""I do." Darwin smiled, unperturbed by the other's gruff manner."But first I wanted all the facts I can get.Facts are important, Colonel, the fulcrum of diagnosis.Would you prefer me to rush in and operate, another arm or leg gone? Or discuss the man's impending death in the presence of his wife or daughter? That is not a physician's role, the addition of new misery beyond disease itself.But lead the way, Dr.Monkton, I am ready now to see your patient."Jacob Pole frowned as he followed the other two men back through the interior of the old farmhouse.His expression showed mingled irritation and respect."You sawbones are all the same," he muttered."You have an answer for everything except a man's illness."The inside of the farmhouse was dimly lit.A single oil lamp stood in the middle of the long and chilly corridor that led to the scullery and kitchen.The floor was uneven stone flags and the high shelves carried preserved and wrinkled apples, their acid smell pleasant and surprising.Monkton opened the door to the scullery, stepped inside, and grunted at the darkness there."This is a nuisance.I told her to stay here with him, but she has gone off somewhere and allowed the lamp to go out.Colonel Pole, would you bring the lantern from the corridor?"While Pole went back for it Darwin stood motionless in the doorway, sniffing the air in the dark room.When there was light Monkton looked around and gave a cry of astonishment."Why, he's not here.He was lying on that cot in the corner.""Maybe he died, and they moved him?" suggested Pole."No, they wouldn't do that," said Monkton, but for the first time his voice was uncertain."Surely they would not move him without my permission?""Looks as though they did, though," said Pole."We can settle that easily enough."He threw back his head."Willy, where are you?"The shout echoed through the whole house.After a few seconds there was an answering cry from upstairs."What's wrong, Jacob? Do you need help there?""No.Has anybody been down here from upstairs, Willy? While I was gone, I mean.""No.I didn't want to risk the sickness.""That sounds right," grunted Pole."Brave old Willy, hiding upstairs with his pipe and flagon.""Has anyone downstairs been using tobacco?" asked Darwin quietly."What?" Pole stared at him."Tobacco?""Use your nose, man.Sniff the air in here." Darwin was prowling forward."There's been a pipe alight here in the past quarter of an hour.Do you smell it now? I somehow doubt that it was the man's wife that was smoking it."He walked forward to the cot itself and laid a plump hand flat upon it."Quite cold [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]