Учебно-методическое пособие, составленное по дисциплине «Домашнее чтение»
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III As he ate it, he was conscious, not for the first time, of the close scrutiny of a man who sat at the table next to him. He was a man of middle-age, with a powerful forceful face. He had a small dark beard and very piercing grey eyes. His name, Jack knew, was Lavington, and he had heard vague rumours as to his being a well-known medical specialist, but as Jack was not a frequenter of Harley Street, the name had told little or nothing to him. But this morning he was very conscious of the quiet observation under which he was being kept, and it frightened him a little. Was his secret written plainly in his face for all to see? Jack shivered at the thought. Was it true? Was he really going mad? Was the whole thing a hallucination, or was it a gigantic hoax? And suddenly a very simple way of testing the solution occurred to him He had hitherto been alone on the course. Supposing someone else was with him? Then one out of three things might happen. The voice might be silent. They might both hear it. Or – he only.might hear it. That evening he proceeded to carry his plan into effect. Lavington was the man he wanted with him. They fell into conversation easily enough – the older man might have been waiting for such an opening. It was clear that for some reason or other Jack interested him. The latter was able to come quite easily and naturally to the suggestion that they might play a few holes together before breakfast. The arrangement was made for the following morning. They started out a little before seven. It was a perfect day, still and cloudless, but not too warm. The doctor was playing well, Jack awfully. He kept glancing at his watch. The girl, as usual, was in the garden as they passed. She did not look up as they passed. It was exactly twenty-five minutes past seven. ~ 98 ~ “If you didn’t mind waiting a minute,” he said, “I think I’ll have a smoke.” They paused a little while. Jack filled and lit the pipe with fingers that trembled a little in spite of himself. An enormous weight seemed to have lifted from his mind. “Lord, what a good day it is,” he remarked. “Go on, Lavington, your shot.” And then it came. Just at the very instant the doctor was hitting. A woman’s voice, high and agonised. “Murder – Help! Murder!” The pipe fell from Jacks nerveless hand, as he turned round in the direction of the sound, and then, remembering, gazed breathlessly at his companion. Lavington was looking down the course, shading his eyes. He had heard nothing. The world seemed to spin round with Jack. He took a step or two and fell. When he recovered himself, he was lying on the ground, and Lavington was bending over him. “There, take it easy now, take it easy.” “What did I do?” “You fainted, young man – or gave a very good try at it.” “My God!” said Jack, and groaned. “What’s the trouble? Something on your mind?” “I’ll tell you in one minute, but I’d like to ask you something first.” The doctor lit his own pipe and settled himself on the bank.” Ask anything you like,” he said comfortably. “You’ve been watching me for the last day or two. “Why?” Lavington’s eyes twinkled a little. “That’s rather an awkward question. A cat can look at a king, you know.” “Don’t put me off. I’m earnest. Why was it I’ve a vital reason for asking.” Lavington’s face grew serious. “I’ll answer you quite honestly. I recognised in you all the signs of a man who is under acute strain, and it intrigued me what that strain could be.” “I can tell you that easily enough,” said Jack bitterly. “I’m going mad.” He stopped dramatically, but as his statement did not seem to arouse the interest he expected, he repeated it. “I tell you I’m going mad.” “Very curious,” murmured Lavington. “Very curious indeed.” “I suppose that’s all it does seem to you. Doctors are so damned callous”. “To begin with, although I have taken my degree, I do not practise medicine. Strictly speaking, I am not a doctor – not a doctor of the body, that it”. Jack looked at him keenly. “Of the mind?” “Yes, in a sense, but more truly I call myself a doctor of the soul.” “Oh!” жүктеу/скачать 1,19 Mb. Достарыңызбен бөлісу:
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