Carlyon Sahib Part 16

VERA.

[_Turning quickly._] I care nothing for him, nothing! Of course you are first. I will do anything in the world for you---- only this is so terrible! I can't tell him.

CARLYON.

Tell him! Of course you can't!

VERA.

Oh, not that! I did not mean that!

CARLYON.

Then what can't you tell him?

VERA.

I can't tell him that he's a dying man--that he has a mortal disease of the brain.

CARLYON.

[_After a moment of silence._] There was never any one who could really stand against me! How long do you give him? [_He sits down with an air of relief._

VERA.

It may be a long time. I can't say.

CARLYON.

I must have some idea; say what you think. Afterwards we can find some one who knows.

VERA.

I think probably he will be blind in a year, and paralysed in two years, and then----

CARLYON.

Blind in a year, paralysed in two!

VERA.

But I may be utterly wrong; I know so little and I have only had a few stolen opportunities of observing him.

CARLYON.

Have you told Rheinhardt?

VERA.

Yes, that is why I asked him here----

CARLYON.

[_Observing that she is hurt._] A dying man can be as dangerous as another. How can you stop him?

VERA.

By telling him.

CARLYON.

And he'll spend the rest of his life in getting doctored; yes. At any rate he isn't likely to go travelling in Bhojal. I should think he was a brave man too.

VERA.

He won't be brave any more! Dr. Rheinhardt has told me all about it--it crushes a man, breaks his nerve, takes away all his spirit.

CARLYON.

[_Who has not been listening to her--pacing the room again._] Yes, that is evidently the plan. It is as simple as daylight. Poor fellow, he had the makings of a fine man.

VERA.

Oh, don't pity him. I can't do it if you pity him.

CARLYON.

You're not going to give him his disease!

VERA.

No, but to tell him----

CARLYON.

You'll have to tell your patients things.

VERA.

If there was any hope of curing him----

CARLYON.

So there is! There _must_ be--_some_ hope, unless you send him off to Bhojal in ignorance. Then I agree there is none. [VERA _looks at him with suspicion_.] It happens to be dangerous to me, certainly, but that doesn't make it prudent for him.

VERA.

Father, don't try to make little of it. I will do what you ask; but I must do it by breaking his spirit. I shall tell him suddenly, brutally--so as to crush him once for all. Oh, how I shall loathe myself! [_After a pause._] Only the last few months of his life!