The Man with the Double Heart Part 67

Roused by his sharp exclamation, the doctor's professional interest was stirred by the sudden pallor following the feverish flush on the young man's face. He had marked the brilliance of the eyes and the strained air of excitement about him, the attentive care of his valet, and now this sudden look of prostration.

A wave of telepathy must have warned McTaggart of his scrutiny. He roused himself and glanced up, fired with an instantaneous resolve.

"Are you a doctor?" he asked abruptly.

So carried away was he by his thoughts that the strangeness of the sudden question did not occur to him at the moment.

The other showed no sign of surprise. "Yes." He moved quickly nearer.

"D'you feel seedy?" His voice was soothing.

"Good Lord, no!" McTaggart laughed, slightly ashamed, collecting his wits. "You must forgive me--the fact is I've just read some astounding news that bowled me over--in this paper--perhaps you've seen it?"----

He handed the _Globe_ across, a finger that trembled slightly marking the famous paragraph.

"About the specialist? Yes--that's it," as the doctor gave it his attention. "It's an odd thing--I consulted the man a few years since about my heart. I'm wondering now if his verdict was wrong?"

The doctor's face went graver still. He guessed that the young man before him had suffered the dread of all heart patients and now this further anxiety had been added, with a sense of shock.

"They say there," went on McTaggart, "that his brain has been failing for some years--that he made mistakes--you see the line--'_strange and eccentric diagnoses_'--I wonder ... do you mind if I tell you?"

He hesitated, but the other answered: "Please do"--realizing that the strain might be lessened by a confidence.

"He said I had a double heart." McTaggart laughed nervously, as he saw the doctor's incredulous face, that went quickly blank again. "He said my circulation was good--that it didn't affect my health in the least.

But there it was--a double heart--a separate organ on either side! It sounds mad--I'll admit that. But I never dreamed he could be mistaken--a man with a reputation like his!"

"Of course." The doctor nodded his head. "I believe there _have_ been cases on record. But I've never met anyone who had come across it--professionally or otherwise. It's quite unique."

"No?" McTaggart smiled back, relieved anew by the words. "I didn't bother much about it. There was no danger, so he said. But it's been ... I can't exactly explain--a sort of perpetual discomfort to me."

"I can quite understand that," said the other and his voice was full of sympathy. He had seen, at ambulance lectures, strong men faint at the sight of diagrams explaining the dangers that menaced the heart.

He knew the fear that underlay any weakness of that organ and he felt, too, a curious interest in the living case before his eyes.

McTaggart liked his new friend's face and the quiet courtesy of the man. He was urged anew by the first impulse that had moved him to confide in a stranger.

"Look here----" his voice was abrupt out of sheer nervousness. "I'm going to make an odd suggestion--I hope you won't be offended by it?

The fact is--just now--it's rather important that I should know where I stand--and get to the bottom of this! I want to marry----" his colour rose under the bronze of his skin, but he went on doggedly, "I'd like to be quite sure--first. That I'm sound, you know--and all that ...

I'm going down--to see her--to-night..."

The doctor's eyes began to twinkle as McTaggart laughed boyishly; then, gravely, he answered him.

"You're quite right--I wish more men would take that view of marriage!

It's the sane one, the _only_ one that's going to do any good to the race."

Quite unconsciously McTaggart had started him on his hobby, Eugenics.

He felt drawn to the young fellow, with his frank speech and handsome face.

"I want you now, if you'll be so kind," McTaggart persisted--"to examine my heart. We're alone--it's a non-stop train--as private as any consulting room. But, of course, I know it's an odd request..." he stammered a little, hunting for words--"unprofessional, perhaps..." he broke off, finding it impossible to suggest a fee in the way he wished.

"Certainly," said his new friend, "if you really wish it. The only thing against it is the noise of the train. I should have preferred to wait until we reached Brighton. We shall get there very shortly and then if you would come back home with me I could make a thorough examination."

"I'm afraid that's impossible," said McTaggart. "I'm going straight on to Worthing. There wouldn't be time..." his face had dropped and the doctor, seeing it, made up his mind.

"Very well--we'll do it now. Luckily I've my stethoscope with me----"

he opened his bag as he spoke. "I've been up to town to see a patient."

McTaggart stood up and took off his coat, then his waistcoat.

"It's awfully good of you--I'm really tremendously obliged..." he went on with his undressing.

But the doctor was almost as keen as himself to investigate this curious case. He said so--tactfully--to set his new patient at ease.

In a few minutes it was over.

"I can't find anything wrong with you. Your heart seems perfectly sound to me. The beat is a little fast just now, probably through excitement--but steady and strong. It ought to take you comfortably into your nineties!"

He smiled as he spoke, holding out his hand.

"I congratulate you--sound as a rock!"

McTaggart wrung it in speechless grat.i.tude. Then he struggled into his clothes.

"Well--I'm glad that nightmare's over! My double heart--Good Lord!"

His laugh hid more than the doctor guessed--those long years of indecision, of weakness in the hands of women...

What a fool he had been! He saw now how often he had excused himself in the past on the score of his physical peculiarity for what was merely lack of control.

They chatted for a little time. Then McTaggart, rather red, drew out his sovereign purse, but the doctor checked him with a gesture.

"No--I won't hear of it! It's been a pleasure--honestly. If you feel at all indebted to me--you might ask me to your wedding."

"I will. But I wish ... Look here, sir--there must be some Hospital you're interested in at Brighton. Perhaps you would give it ...

this--from me?"

His new friend laughed.

"Well ... all right----" the coins changed hands. "You're a loser any way, you know. You've just got rid of an extra heart."

"Thank goodness!" McTaggart laughed--"I find one quite sufficient."

His mind swerved aside to Jill, his face softening as he spoke.

The doctor guessed the trend of his thoughts and picked up the fallen paper.

"Will you lend me this for a few minutes?" He settled himself behind the folds, a smile on his rather stern face as the lover gazed out of the window.

They had come to that picturesque bridge of stone spanning the valley below the Downs and already the air was sharp and sweet with the first breath of the sea beyond.