The Moon And Sixpence 55.4

Ata did notspeak, but with the boy followed him to the house. The girl who had brought himwas by this time sitting on the verandah, and here was lying an old woman, withher back to the wall, making native cigarettes. Ata pointed to the door. Thedoctor, wondering irritably why they behaved so strangely, entered, and therefound Strickland cleaning his palette. There was a picture on the easel.Strickland, clad only in a pareo, was standing with his back to the door, buthe turned round when he heard the sound of boots. He gave the doctor a look ofvexation. He was surprised to see him, and resented the intrusion. But thedoctor gave a gasp, he was rooted to the floor, and he stared with all hiseyes. This was not what he expected. He was seized with horror.

"You enterwithout ceremony, " said Strickland. "What can I do for you?"

The doctorrecovered himself, but it required quite an effort for him to find his voice.All his irritation was gone, and he felt -- eh bien, oui, je ne le nie pas --he felt an overwhelming pity.

"I am Dr.Coutras. I was down at Taravao to see the chiefess, and Ata sent for me to seeyou. "

"She's adamned fool. I have had a few aches and pains lately and a little fever, butthat's nothing; it will pass off. Next time anyone went to Papeete I was goingto send for some quinine. "

"Look atyourself in the glass. "

Strickland gavehim a glance, smiled, and went over to a cheap mirror in a little wooden frame,that hung on the wall.

"Well?"

"Do younot see a strange change in your face? Do you not see the thickening of yourfeatures and a look -- how shall I describe it? -- the books call itlion-faced. Mon pauvre ami, must I tell you that you have a terribledisease?"

"I?"

"When youlook at yourself in the glass you see the typical appearance of the leper."

"You arejesting, " said Strickland.

"I wish toGod I were. "

"Do youintend to tell me that I have leprosy?"

"Unfortunately,there can be no doubt of it. "

爱塔没有说话，她同那个男孩子一起跟着走进屋子。把医生找来的那个女孩儿这时在阳台上坐下来；阳台上还躺着一个老太婆，背对着墙，正在卷当地人吸的一种纸烟。医生感到这些人的举止都有些奇怪，心里有些气恼。走进屋子以后，他发现思特里克兰德正在清洗自己的调色板。画架上摆着一幅画。思特里克兰德扎着一件帕利欧，站在画架后面，背对着门。听到有脚步声，他转过身来。他很不高兴地看了医生一眼。他有些吃惊；他讨厌有人来打搅他。但是真正感到吃惊的是医生；库特拉斯一下子僵立在那里，脚下好象生了根，眼睛瞪得滚圆。他看到的是他事前绝没有料到的。他吓得胆战心惊。

“你怎么连门也不敲就进来了，”思特里克兰德说，“有什么事儿？”

医生虽然从震惊中恢复过来，但还是费了很大劲儿才能开口说话。他来时的一肚子怒气已经烟消云散；他感到——哦，对，我不能否认。①——他感到从心坎里涌现出一阵无限的怜悯之情。

①原文为法语。

“我是库特拉斯医生。我刚才到塔拉窝去给女酋长看病，爱塔派人请我来给你看看。”

“她是个大傻瓜。最近我身上有的地方有些痛，有时候有点儿发烧，但这不是什么大病。过些天自然就好了。下回有人再去帕皮提，我会叫他带些金鸡纳霜回来的。”

“你还是照照镜子吧。”

思特里克兰德看了他一眼，笑了笑，走到挂在墙上的一面小镜子前头。这是那种价钱很便宜的镜子，镶在一个小木框里。

“怎么了？”

“你没有发现你的脸有什么变化吗？你没有发现你的五官都肥大起来，你的脸——我该怎么说呢？——你的脸已经成了医书上所说的‘狮子脸’了。我可怜的朋友①，难道一定要我给你指出来，你得了一种可怕的病了吗？”

①原文为法语。

“我？”

“你从镜子里就可以看出来，你的脸相都是麻风病的典型特征。”

“你是在开玩笑么？”思特里克兰德说。

“我也希望是在开玩笑。”

“你是想告诉我，我害了麻风病么？”

“非常不幸，这已经是不容置疑的事了。”