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第9章 死亡诊断（第2页）

就在第二天，人们发现霍弗死在了自己的房间里。死的时候，小提琴还搭在他的脖子上，琴弓搭在弦上，他的面前摆着肖邦《葬礼进行曲》的谱子……

"Iamnotsosuperstitiousassomeofyourphysiofsce，asyouarepleasedtobecalled，"saidHawver，replyingtoanathathadnotbee;Someofyou-onlyafew，Ifess-believeialityofthesoul，andinapparitionswhichyouhaveytocallghosts。Igohanathattheliviimesseeheyarenot，buthavebeeheyhavelivedsolong，perhapssoiohavelefttheirimpressaboutthem。Ikone'semaybesoaffee'spersonalityastoyield，longafterward，animageofone'sselftotheeyesofalesstheimpressiyhasthtkiyasthepergeyeshavethtkindofeyes-mine，forexample。"

"Yes，therightkindofeyes，gsensationstkindofbrains，"saidDrFrayley，smiling。

"Thankyou，oohaveaioisaboutthereplythatIsupposedyouwouldhavethecivilitytomake。"

"Pardoyousaythatyouknow。Thatisagooddealtosay，don'tyouthink？Perhapsyouwillnotmiroubleofsayinghowyoulear;

"Youwillhallu，"Hawversaid，"butthatdoes;Ahestory。

"LastsummerIwent，asyouknow，topassthehotweathertermiowherelativeatwhosehouseIhadiaywasill，soIsoughtotherquarters。AftersomedifficultyIsurentingavatdwellingthathadbeenoccupiedbyaricdoctorwiththename，whohadgoneawayyearsbefore，noonekeve。Hehadbuiltthehousehimselfandhadlivedinitwithaforabouttenyears。Hispraeververyexteerafewyearsbeeirely。Notonlyso，buthehadwithdrawaltogetherfromsociallifeandbeearecluse。Iwastoldbythevillagedoctor，abouttheohwhomheheldaions，thatdurihehaddevotedhimselftoasiudy，theresultofwhichhehadexpoundedinabookthatdidselftotheapprovalofhisprofessiohren，who，indeed，sideredhimirelysaseenthebookandowrecallthetitleofit，butIamtoldthatitexpouherstartlingtheory。Heheldthatitossibleintheanyapersonioforecasthisdeathwithpre，severalmonthsiheeve，Ithieenmonths。Therewerelocaltalesofhishaviedhispnosis，orperhapsyouwouldsaydiagnosis；anditwassaidthatiahepersonwhosefriendshehadwarnedhaddiedsuddeedtime，andfromnoassignablecause。Allthis，however，hasnothingtodowithwhatIhavetotell；Ithoughtitmightamuseaphysi。

"Thehousewasfurashehadlivedinit。Itwasarathergloomydwellingforonewhowasherareorastudent，andIthihingofitscharae-perhapssomeofitsformerot'scharacter；foralwaysIfeltiainmelancholythatwasnotinmynaturaldisposition，nor，Ithioloneliness。Ihadhatsleptinthehouse，butIhavealwaysbeen，asyouknow，ratherfondofmyowy，beingmuchaddictedt，thoughlittletostudy。Whateverwasthecause，theeffectwasdejedasenseofimpehiseannering'sstudy，althoughthatroomwasthelightestandmostairyihedoctor'slife-sizeportraitinoilhunginthatroom，aelytodomiherewasnothingunusualiure；themalyrathergoodlooking，aboutfiftyyearsold，withiron-greyhair，asmooth-shavenfaddark，seriouseyes。Somethiurealwaysdrewaention。Theman'sappearancebecamefamiliartome，a;hau;me。

"OneeveningIassingthroughthisroomtomybedroom，-thereisnogasinMeridian。Istoppedasusualbeforetheportrait，whichseemedinthelamplighttohaveanewexpression，noteasilydistinedbutdidnotdisturbme。Imovedthelampfromoheotheraheeffectsofthealteredlight。Whilesoeaurnround。AsIdidsoIsawamanmovingacrosstheroomdiree！AssoonasheearenoughforthelamplighttoillumihefaceIsawthatitwasDrManneriwasasiftheportrait>

"'Ibegyourpardon，'Isaid，somewhatcoldly，'butifyouknockedIdidnothear。'

"Hepassedme，withinanarm'slength，liftedhisrightfer，asinwarning，andwithoutawordwentonoutoftheroom，thoughIobservedhisexithanIhadobservedhisentrance。

"Ofcourse，IellyouthatthisillcallahalluandIapparition。Thatroomhadonlytwodoors，ofwhiewaslocked；theotherledintoabedroom，fromwhichtherewas。Myfeelihisisnotanimportantpartofthei。

"Doubtlessthisseemstoyouaveryonplace'ghoststory'-orutheregularlineslaiddowersoftheart。IfthatweresoIshouldedit，evehemanwashimtodayinU。Hepassedmeinacrowd。"

Hawverhadfioryandbothme。DrFrayleyabsentlydrummedoablewithhisfingers。

"Didhesayanythingtoday？"heasked，"anythingfromwhiferredthathewas;

&aredanddidnotreply。

"Perhaps，"uedFrayley，"hemadeasigure-liftedafinger，asinwarning。It'satrickhehad-ahabitwhensayihingserious-annouofadiagnosis，forexample。"

"Yes，hedid-justashisapparitio，goodGod！didyoueverknowhim？"

Haarentlygrowingnervous。

"Iknewhim。Ihavereadhisbook，aswilleveryphysieday。Itisorikingandimportaury'stributionstomedice。Yes，Iknewhim；Iattendedhimihreeyearsago。Hedied。"

Hawversprangfromhisifestlydisturbed。Hestrodeforwardandbackacrosstheroom；thenapproachedhisfriend，andiogethersteady，said："Doctor，haveyouanythingtosaytome-asaphysi？"

"No，Hawver，youarethehealthiestmanIeverknew。AsafriendIadviseyoutogotoyourroom。Youplaytheviolinlikea，playsomethinglightahiscursedbadbusinessoffyourmind。"

&dayHawverwasfounddeadinhisroom，theviolinathishebowup，hismusibeforehimat'sFuneralMarch。