Volume II Part 40 (1/2)
CHAPTER XXIV
THE AUTOPSY
In a House opposite the court-house, which stood at the corner of a street which has long since disappeared, were two
”Doctor,” said one of theuarantee a success?”
”Have no fear; I have often rown gray in the service of science for nothing I knohat I a time,” said the other anxiously ”You knoe can operate only at night, and forty hours are sometihed everything carefully,” said the physician earnestly, ”otherwise I should not have taken the responsibility Have confidence ineverything to a good end”
The other man shook the physician's hand heartily
”Thank you, faithful friend,” he cordially said ”I wish I could stop the uneasy beating of my heart, but I suppose it is only natural that I am anxious”
”That's it exactly,” replied the doctor; ”and to quiet you I will stay here froo You knohere I am to be found”
The doctor went, while the other man struck his face with his hands and softly ht I would rather die a thousand deaths than lose the dear boy in this way”
Hot tears ran over the man's brown cheeks, and his broad breast rose and fell, torn by convulsive sobs
”Shame yourself, Firejaws!” hewill be all right, and then--”
A loud knock at the door interrupted Girdel's self-conversation, and upon a hasty ”Come in,” Bobi+chel entered the roooes it?” asked the athlete
”She is downstairs,” said the cloith a significant gesture
Without asking another question, Girdel hurried out, while Bobi+chel looked observantly around the roolass; he filled the glass and emptied it with one s
In the meantime Girdel had met Irene de Salves in the corridor of the house
The young lady wore a black dress, and when she saw the athlete she ran to ly cried:
”He's not dead, is he?”
”No, he is not dead,” confir Irene's pale face, he said, more to himself: ”I kne the neould work, and yet it could not be helped--as God pleases, it will all be right again”
”But where is he?” asked Irene anxiously
”Countess,” began the athlete, somewhat embarrassed, ”at present he is a corpse on a bier and whoever sees him thinks he is dead; but to-morrow at this time he will be well and at liberty”
”Ah, if I could only believe it--”
”You can do so,” cried Girdel, hastily; ”if I had not thought you were eneral, I would have kept silent; but I thought to myself you were in despair, and I therefore concluded to speak”