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第39章 掘墓盗尸人7（第1页）

"Androofanother。Yes，Iknow;andImassorryasyouarethisshouldhavecomehere，

"taingthebodywithhiscane。

"Thenextbestthingformeisnottorecogniseit

"andheaddedcoolly，

"Idont。Youmay，ifyoulease。Idontdictate，butIthinkamanoftheworldwoulddoasIdo;andImayadd，IfancythatiswhatKwouldlookforatourhands。Thequestionis，whyhechoseustwoforhisassistants。AndIanswer，becausehedidntwantoldwives。

"

ThiswasthetoneofallotherstoaffectthemindofaladlikeFettes。HeagreedtoimitateMacfarlane。Thebodyoftheunfortunategirlwasdulydissected，andnooneremarkedoraearedtorecogniseher。

Oneafternoon，whenhisdaysworkwasover，FettesdroedintoaoulartavernandfoundMacfarlanesittingwithastranger。Thiswasasmallman，veryaleanddark，withcoal-blackeyes。Thecutofhisfeaturesgavearomiseofintellectandrefinementwhichwasbutfeeblyrealisedinhismanners，forheroved，uonaneareracquaintance，coarse，vulgar，andstuid。Heexercised，however，averyremarkablecontroloverMacfarlane;issuedordersliketheGreatBashaw;becameinflamedattheleastdiscussionordelay，andcommentedrudelyontheservilitywithwhichhewasobeyed。ThismostoffensiveersontookafancytoFettesonthesot，liedhimwithdrinks，andhonouredhimwithunusualconfidencesonhisastcareer。Ifatenthartofwhatheconfessedweretrue，hewasaveryloathsomerogue;andtheladsvanitywastickledbytheattentionofsoexeriencedaman。

"Imarettybadfellowmyself，

"thestrangerremarked，

"butMacfarlaneistheboy—ToddyMacfarlaneIcallhim。Toddy，orderyourfriendanotherglass。

"Oritmightbe，

"Toddy，youjumuandshutthedoor。

"

"Toddyhatesme，

"hesaidagain。

"Ohyes，Toddy，youdo!

"

"Dontyoucallmethatconfoundedname，

"growledMacfarlane。

"Hearhim!Didyoueverseetheladslayknife?Hewouldliketodothatallovermybody，

"remarkedthestranger。

"Wemedicalshaveabetterwaythanthat，

"saidFettes。

"Whenwedislikeadeadfriendofours，wedissecthim。

"

Macfarlanelookedusharly，asthoughthisjestwerescarcelytohismind。

Theafternoonassed。Gray，forthatwasthestrangersname，invitedFettestojointhematdinner，orderedafeastsosumtuousthatthetavernwasthrownintocommotion，andwhenallwasdonecommandedMacfarlanetosettlethebill。Itwaslatebeforetheysearated;themanGraywasincaablydrunk。Macfarlane，soberedbyhisfury，chewedthecudofthemoneyhehadbeenforcedtosquanderandtheslightshehadbeenobligedtoswallow。Fettes，withvariousliquorssinginginhishead，returnedhomewithdeviousfootstesandamindentirelyinabeyance。NextdayMacfarlanewasabsentfromtheclass，andFettessmiledtohimselfasheimaginedhimstillsquiringtheintolerableGrayfromtaverntotavern。Assoonasthehouroflibertyhadstruckheostedfromlacetolaceinquestofhislastnightscomanions。Hecouldfindthem，however，nowhere;soreturnedearlytohisrooms，wentearlytobed，andsletthesleeofthejust。

Atfourinthemorninghewasawakenedbythewell-knownsignal。Descendingtothedoor，hewasfilledwithastonishmenttofindMacfarlanewithhisgig，andinthegigoneofthoselongandghastlyackageswithwhichhewassowellacquainted。

"What?

"hecried。

"Haveyoubeenoutalone?Howdidyoumanage?