登陆注册
5380300000083

第83章

It may be merely the old-fogy conservatism of the individual, or there may be a law in it."These seemed very paltry things for a man of such wisdom to bother his head about.Theron looked, as he was bidden, at the rows of hives shining in the hot sun on a bench along the wall, but offered no comment beyond a casual, "My mother was always going to keep bees, but somehow she never got around to it.They say it pays very well, though.""The discovery of the reason why no bee will touch the nectar of the EPIPACTIS LATIFOLIA, though it is sweet to our taste, and wasps are greedy for it, WOULD pay,"commented the doctor."Not like a blue rhododendron, in mere money, but in recognition.Lots of men have achieved a half-column in the 'Encyclopedia Britannica'

on a smaller basis than that."

They stood now at the end of the garden, before a small, dilapidated summer-house.On the bench inside, facing him, Theron saw a strange recumbent figure stretched at full length, apparently sound asleep, or it might be dead.

Looking closer, with a startled surprise, he made out the shaven skull and outlandish garb of a Chinaman.

He turned toward his guide in the expectation of a scene.

The doctor had already taken out a note-book and pencil, and was drawing his watch from his pocket.He stepped into the summer-house, and, lifting the Oriental's limp arm, took account of his pulse.Then, with head bowed low, side-wise, he listened for the heart-action.Finally, he somewhat brusquely pushed back one of the Chinaman's eyelids, and made a minute inspection of what the operation disclosed.

Returning to the light, he inscribed some notes in his book, put it back in his pocket, and came out.

In answer to Theron's marvelling stare, he pointed toward a pipe of odd construction lying on the floor beneath the sleeper.

"This is one of my regular afternoon duties," he explained, again with the whimsical half-smile."I am increasing his dose monthly by regular stages, and the results promise to be rather remarkable.Heretofore, observations have been made mostly on diseased or morbidly deteriorated subjects.

This fellow of mine is strong as an ox, perfectly nourished, and watched over intelligently.He can assimilate opium enough to kill you and me and every other vertebrate creature on the premises, without turning a hair, and he hasn't got even fairly under way yet."The thing was unpleasant, and the young minister turned away.

They walked together up the path toward the house.

His mind was full now of the hostile things which Celia had said about the doctor.He had vaguely sympathized with her then, upon no special knowledge of his own.

Now he felt that his sentiments were vehemently in accord with hers.The doctor WAS a beast.

And yet--as they moved slowly along through the garden the thought took sudden shape in his mind--it would be only justice for him to get also the doctor's opinion of Celia.Even while they offended and repelled him, he could not close his eyes to the fact that the doctor's experiments and occupations were those of a patient and exact man of science--a philosopher.And what he had said about women--there was certainly a great deal of acumen and shrewd observation in that.If he would only say what he really thought about Celia, and about her relations with the priest! Yes, Theron recognized now there was nothing else that he so much needed light upon as those puzzling ties between Celia and Father Forbes.

He paused, with a simulated curiosity, about one of the flower-beds."Speaking of women and religion"--he began, in as casual a tone as he could command--"I notice curiously enough in my own case, that as I develop in what you may call the--the other direction, my wife, who formerly was not especially devote, is being strongly attracted by the most unthinking and hysterical side of--of our church system."

The doctor looked at him, nodded, and stooped to nip some buds from a stalk in the bed.

"And another case," Theron went on--"of course it was all so new and strange to me--but the position which Miss Madden seems to occupy about the Catholic Church here--I suppose you had her in mind when you spoke."Ledsmar stood up."My mind has better things to busy itself with than mad asses of that description,"he replied."She is not worth talking about--a mere bundle of egotism, ignorance, and red-headed lewdness.

同类推荐
  • 缁门警训

    缁门警训

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 普贤金刚萨埵瑜伽念诵仪

    普贤金刚萨埵瑜伽念诵仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说天王太子辟罗经

    佛说天王太子辟罗经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 两晋秘史

    两晋秘史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大宝广博楼阁善住秘密陀罗尼经

    大宝广博楼阁善住秘密陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 绝对狂神

    绝对狂神

    在武者的世界,拳头大就是老大,夜飞羽不甘平凡,自从获得一枚龙形琥珀后,快速崛起为一代狂神。
  • 快穿之女二只想当路人

    快穿之女二只想当路人

    一句赞美,一支柠檬味棒棒糖,就被坑绑定某坑货系统的某女,应该是前无古人,后无来者了吧!如果时间倒退,她绝对会守住自己的节操,保持清醒的头脑,远离坑货系统。还有,她只想简单的当个女二打打酱油,珍爱生命,做个简单的路人。
  • 逆天蛇尊

    逆天蛇尊

    新文推荐:《金鳞绝世》链接:(网游)遭遇爱人的背叛,亲人的欺骗,经历流产和死亡双重磨难,重生后的李晓蕾不再是那个成功男人背后温婉的女人,而是成为某人手中的美艳尖刀,深入‘敌人’内部,为复仇而生,为自己而活。你们既然都是冲着我的游戏天赋而来,压榨光了我的价值就抛弃。那么这一次,我就用我的游戏天赋,让你们厦毁楼塌,永无出头之日!第一次写网游,不足之处很多,请大家多多见谅了。阎寞兮,当今世界最顶尖的特工,拥有与生俱来的古武内功和神仙法术,天性狂邪妖侫,貌似清冷淡薄,实则腹黑妖孽。当身世诡秘、妖邪不羁的她,太子换狸猫,换走了相貌平平、懦弱无能、任人欺凌的她...命运之轮开始转动。杏眸重开,星光绽放。破封印,得秘宝,练就龙族秘技;携灵兽,孵龙蛋,纵横三界之巅;降野马,收美男,情义深种;救神龙,战麒麟,弑杀神佛;带阴兵,劫阎王,混乱鬼域。终于,她的身世之谜被解。前世的她,到底是谁,又有着怎样的逆天之举?女娲与她,是何关系?而今生,她又将如何登上世界之巅?让我们拭目以待吧!●本文爱情、友情、亲情三线并走,热血兄弟情谊,绝宠痴情美男,一个不少。【女强】【慢热】◆序章·神的存在◆寞兮:“历史”,是什么?伏羲:是记载了时间洪流运行轨迹的书寞兮:那“人”是什么?伏羲:是活跃在书中的角色寞兮:你说的“传奇”呢?伏羲:是金鳞化龙、鸾啸九天的乐章寞兮:那“我们”呢?伏羲:我们,是神!历史虽然会一再重演,但人类却无法回到过去。如果注定不能回头,那就坚定地走下去。因为,我们要活下去!在历史的洪流中前进,无所畏惧,书写历史,谱一曲传世乐章。这,就是神的存在!◆精彩片段◆神赐武斗会决赛现场,木石国的五皇子贾彦希凭借着诡异的身法,竟打败了青枫国的天罡灵师级别参赛者,站上了决赛高台。在他的对面,是众人预料之中的黑马——阎寞兮。冷然地睨了一眼高傲而得意的贾彦希,阎寞兮突然转头询问高台边上的会场工作人员,“是不是只要对方不掉出这个高台,也不开口认输,这比赛便要一直继续下去?”听到阎寞兮的问话,那工作人员一阵错愕,继而立刻自以为是地明白过来。这阎寞兮还挺聪明,知道打不过就要认输。而不是像她哥哥阎天君一样,在四分之一决赛的时候,被贾彦希打得差点成残废。一边这样想着,工作人员一边肯定地点点头:“是的,只要不认输、不下台,比赛就不能结束。”
  • 净土生无生论会集

    净土生无生论会集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 戴尔·卡耐基全传

    戴尔·卡耐基全传

    他生于贫苦农家,却积极乐观向上;他经常遭人嘲笑,却勇于挑战自我;他初涉职场举步维艰,却能得到老板的赏识重用;他曾腼腆自卑,却成享誉世界的演讲人。他是谁?他就是20世纪最伟大的成功学大师,美国现代成人教育之父戴尔·卡耐基!读透卡耐基这个人,学习他的演讲、推销、为人处世艺术!本书讲述了从草根少年到享誉世界的成功学大师、美国现代成人教育之父戴尔·卡耐基传奇的一生。
  • 骨髓门

    骨髓门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 公主在上

    公主在上

    臭名昭著的长公主突然死了,死得时候还衣衫不整。啧啧,正当人们拍手叫好的时候,她却重生了。什么?重生成死对头家的傻女儿了,还要被强行嫁给另一个傻子?
  • 小酉腴山馆主人自着年谱

    小酉腴山馆主人自着年谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 腹黑夜王独宠:特工狂妃

    腹黑夜王独宠:特工狂妃

    她楠国丞相之女,楠国外姓郡主,年幼的她却是少有的天才,一道圣旨她变成了她,无心无情的她,谈笑间取人性命:“我最讨厌别人用手指着我了,你说我挖了你的双眼,还是折断你的双手好了。”面对可恨之人她从不手软,二十一世纪的王牌女杀手,且看他如何权倾天下,风云榜上,温文儒雅的他:“我会在你身后,只要你转身便能看见。”他风云榜上最神秘之人,银色面具,邪魅,狂妄:“没想到娘子如此的想为夫,刚见面就投怀送抱!不做点什么,岂不辜负了娘子的美意……”他纳兰族少主,红衣妖娆,“虽说我们相识不久,但是我对你的爱,不比他们少……”在这乱世楚歌,面对天下掌权者本文暂停更新,将在明年恢复。
  • 租妻未满

    租妻未满

    风月事务所正式挂牌,专接“男女票租赁”等业务。先生你想租女票?没问题。租未婚妻?没问题。租老婆?没……等等。夏大少:你出个价,我长期包养。小桃子:长期是多久?夏大少:这辈子,下辈子,下下辈子,有我就有你。