"Avram Davidson - Kings Evil" - читать интересную книгу автора (Davidson Avram)

smiled.
"Newly re-found philosophy, I should rather term it," Mainauduc said. "What was the laying on of
hands but animal magnetism, anciently practiced? And in what other way did Eltsha bring to life the dead
child, but by conveyance of the magnetical fluid?" Wentworth nodded gravely.
Mr. Fanner, who had been talking with his mouth full, and smiling happily, suddenly threw down his
knife. His face fell.
"Suppose d'ye see, gentlemen suppose a man makes mistakes eh? bad ones, very bad, bad, bad.
Terrible losses. What? Now, now, oughtn't he have the chance, the chance, I say, to do better? Better?
What, what? Well, so he must see for himself how things go. See for himself. Eh? How things go.
Terrible losses. Was it not a thing to break your heart? It broke my heart I never meant it to happen so "
"Gaining!" Wentworth whispered to Mainauduc.
"To what losses do you refer, Mr. Farmer?" Blee asked, in a solicitous tone. "Did I not understand you
to say the harvest was good this year?"
"The Mesmeric method " Wentworth began, rather loudly. Abashed, he lowered his voice. "Dr.
Mainauduc is desirous of opening in London an institute for the practice of the Mesmeric method of
healing. In this, it is contemplated, I am to assist him." The faintest shadow of color came and went in his
face. "What thinlc you of the scheme, gentlemen? We, that is he, should like to know."
Blee rose from the table and gave the fire a poke. The gray pyramid collapsed and the coals blazed up
again, making the shadows dance. Mr. Farmer laughed.
"Is not this pleasant?" he cried. "I am so very much obliged to you for the pleasure. Pleasure. We dine
simply at home. At home ek? we dine very simply. But there is such a degree of stiffness. Strain. Stiffness
and strain."
Mr. Blee tapped the poker on the iron dogs, "Such an institution, if headed by such a man as Dr.
Mainauduc, can not possibly do otherwise than succeed." The two physicians looked at one another,
pleased. Their faces quickened.
"You will make a deal of money," Blee told the fire.
Wentworth looked hastily at a darned place on his hose, and crossed his legs. "It is the science, not the
money. The money is not of any consequence to us."
"Not of the least consequence," Mainauduc said easily. His coat and waistcoat were of French
flowered silk. Blee turned from the fire. He drew up his chak and sat, facing Dr. Mainauduc.
"Gentlemen," he said in low tones, "pray give me leave to speak openly. The alchymists strove for
centuries to make gold; that they succeeded, no one can say with certainty. But magnetism is the new
alchymy. It will make gold, I know it Already London is atremble with the reports of its success. People
who would never go so far as Hackney to consult the best physician of the old school ever known, have
gone all the way to Bristol to be magnetized by Dr. Mainauduc. You have only to throw open your doors
in London, sir, to have your chambers thronged with the richest... and the wealthiest..." His voice hissed
upon the sibilants. He brought his dark, clever face nearer. "You will need a man of business. May I
serve you?"
 The two physicians looked at one another. Dr. Mainauduc's lips parted. Mr. Wentworth inclined his
head to the side. And, then, as abrupt as the bursting of a bubble, the mood or spell was shattered: Mr.
Farmer, seemingjy from nowhere, had produced a grubby child, and was patting its head and stroking its
cheeks and asking what its name was and if it would like a glass of wine all in a tone of boisterous good
cheer, his eyes popping with joy.
"Now, damme, sir!" cries Blee, jumping to his feet in a rage and overturning the chak. The child begins
to weep.
"Oh, pray, don't" Farmer implores. "I love children. Don't fret, poppet."
"Take care, Mr. Farmer," Wentworth warns him. "Do you not see the child is diseased? See the lesions
it is certainly scrofulous. Have done, Mr. Fanner!"
Then the waiter came, with many apologies, for it was his child, begged their pardon, took the boy
away.