I glanced at the doctor, but he showed no sign of ever having seen my
patient before, and went to work with me in the most methodical and
indifferent way possible to revive him.
"You did not mention that this was one of his symptoms--a peculiarity
of his. Has he been subject to this sort of thing? Did he say he was
subject to it before he hurt his head, or has it developed since?" the
doctor inquired quietly as we worked.
I bit my lip. His tone was so exasperatingly cool, while, knowing my
patient as I did, his startled manner and sudden fainting had impressed
me deeply.
"It is the first time," I said, "since he was hurt--that is, since
he recovered consciousness after the blow--that he has exhibited the
slightest tendency to anything of the kind."
I hesitated, then I said: "Doctor, if you know him; if this is the
result of seeing you suddenly (for he did not know who was to come)
don't you think--would it be well?--Do you think it best for you to be
where he will see you when he begins to revive?"
The doctor stared at me, then at my patient. "I don't know him--never
saw him before in my life so far as I know. What did you say his name
is? Mum--oh, yes, Lathro--first and only time I ever heard it. Oh, no,
I suppose his nerves are weak. The excitement of seeing me--the idea
of--a--er--consultation." I smiled, involuntarily. "You don't know the
man, doctor," said I. "He is bomb proof as to nerves in that sense of
the word. He--a--There must be some other reason. He must have mistaken
you for some one else. I am sorry to trouble you, doctor, but would you
kindly step into the other room? He will open his eyes now, you see."
When, a moment later, my patient regained consciousuess, he glanced
about him furtively, like a hunted man. He did not look like himself.
He examined my face closely--suspiciously, I thought--for a moment. Then
I laughed lightly, and said: "Well, old fellow, you've been trying your
hand at a faint. That's a pretty way to treat a friend. I come in to see
you; you step out to nobody knows where--to no man's land--and give me
no end of trouble rowing you back to our shore. What did you eat for
dinner that served you that kind of a trick?"
He looked all about the room again, examined my face, and then smiled,
for the first time since I had known him, nervously, and said:
"I think my digestion must be pretty badly out of order. I'll declare
I saw double when you came in. I thought there were two of you; and the
other one--wasn't you."
I laughed; "That is good. Two of me, but the other one wasn't me. Well,
thank heaven there is only one of me up to date."
He smiled, but seemed disturbed still. I decided to ask him a direct
question:
"Well now, just suppose there had been two of me--is that an excuse for
you to faint? Does associating with one of me try you to that extent
that two of me would prostrate you?"
He did not take me up with his old manner. He was listless and absent.
I said that I would go down to the office and order some wine and return
at once. I slipped into the other room, and with my finger on my lips
motioned to Dr. Hamilton to pass out quietly before me.
I followed him. "There is something wrong, Doctor," I said: "I am sorry,
but I shall have to ask you to go without seeing him again. I can't
tell you why yet, but I'll try to find out and let you know. Order some
champagne sent up to me, please, as you go out, and I will see you as
soon as I can."
The moment I re-entered the room, my patient, whose restless eyes met
mine as I opened the door, said: "I thought you were talking to some
one."
"I was," said I carelessly; a bell-boy, "I ordered wine. It will be up
soon." Then I changed the subject; but he was nervous and unlike himself
and none of the old topics interested him.
When the door opened for the boy with the wine an expression of actual
terror passed over my patient's face. When I left him a half hour later
I was puzzled and anxious.