Part 96 (2/2)

The tips of his left hand were blue and swollen.

”The doctor, quickly,” cried Daruszegi to his servant.

”Never mind. It is already unnecessary,” said Topandy, falling languidly into an arm-chair. ”In two hours it is over. I cannot live more than two hours. In twenty minutes this swelling will reach my shoulder, and the way from thence to the heart is short.”

The doctor, who hastened to appear, confirmed Topandy's opinion.

”There is nothing to be done,” he said.

Lorand, horror-stricken, hastened to take care of his uncle: the old fellow embraced the neck of the youth kneeling beside him.

”You philosopher, you were right after all, you see. There is One who takes thought for two-legged featherless animals too. If I had known,--'Knock and it shall be opened unto you:' I should long have knocked at the door and cried, 'O Lord, let me in!'”

Topandy would not allow himself to be undressed and put to bed.

”Draw my chair beside Czipra. Let me learn from her how a dead man must behave. My death will not be so fine as hers: I shall not breathe my soul into the soul of my loved one: yet I shall be a gay travelling-companion.”

Pain interrupted his words.

When it ceased, he laughed at himself.

”How a foolish ma.s.s of flesh protests! It will not allow itself to be overlorded. Yet we were only guests here! '_Animula, vagula, blandula.

Hospes comesque corporis. Quae nunc adibis loca? Frigidula, palidula, undula! Nec, ut soles, dabis jocos._' Certainly you will be '_extra dominium_' immediately. And my lord Stomach, his Grace, and my lord Heart, his Excellency, and my lord Head, his Royal Highness all must resign office.”

The doctor declared he must be suffering terrible agony all the time he was jesting and laughing; and he laughed when other people would have gnashed their teeth and cried aloud.

”We have disputed often, Lorand,” said the old man, always in a fainter voice, ”about that German savant who a.s.serted that the inhabitants of other planets are much n.o.bler men than we here on earth. If he asks what has become of me, tell him I have advanced. I have gone to a planet where there are no peasants: barons clean earls' boots. Don't laugh at me, I beg, if I am talking foolishly.--But death dictates very curious verses.”

The hand-grasp with which he greeted Lorand, proved that it was his last.

After that his hand drooped, his eyes languished, his face became ever more and more yellow.

Once again he raised his eyes.

They met Lorand's gaze.

He wished to smile: in a whisper, straining desperately he said:

”Immediately now ... I shall know--what is--in the foggy spots of the Northern Dog-star:--and in the eyeless worm's----entrails.”

Then, suddenly, with a forced final spasmodic effort, he seized the arms of his chair, and rose, lifted up his right arm, and turned to the magistrate.

”Sir,” he cried in a strong full-toned voice, ”I have appealed.”

He fell back in the arm-chair.

Some minutes later every wrinkle disappeared from his face, it became as smooth as marble, and calm, as those of dead persons are wont to be.

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