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hat might happen。
〃You know； Mr。 Daughtry；〃 Walter Merritt Emory went on enthusiastically； while he held the steward's eyes with his and while all the time the live end of the cigar continued to rest against Kwaque's finger； 〃the older I get the more convinced I am that there are too many ill…advised and hasty operations。〃
Still fire and flesh pressed together； and a tiny spiral of smoke began to arise from Kwaque's finger…end that was different in colour from the smoke of a cigar…end。
〃Now take that patient of Doctor Hadley's。 I've saved him； not merely the risk of an operation for appendicitis； but the cost of it； and the hospital expenses。 I shall charge him nothing for what I did。 Hadley's charge will be merely nominal。 Doctor Granville； at the outside； will cure his pyorrhea with emetine for no more than a paltry fifty dollars。 Yes； by George； besides the risk to his life； and the discomfort； I've saved that man； all told； a cold thousand dollars to surgeon； hospital； and nurses。〃
And while he talked on； holding Daughtry's eyes； a smell of roast meat began to pervade the air。 Doctor Emory smelled it eagerly。 So did Miss Judson smell it； but she had been warned and gave no notice。 Nor did she look at the juxtaposition of cigar and finger； although she knew by the evidence of her nose that it still obtained。
〃What's burning？〃 Daughtry demanded suddenly； sniffing the air and glancing around。
〃Pretty rotten cigar；〃 Doctor Emory observed； having removed it from contact with Kwaque's finger and now examining it with critical disapproval。 He held it close to his nose； and his face portrayed disgust。 〃I won't say cabbage leaves。 I'll merely say it's something I don't know and don't care to know。 That's the trouble。 They get out a good； new brand of cigar； advertise it； put the best of tobacco into it； and； when it has taken with the public； put in inferior tobacco and ride the popularity of it。 No more in mine； thank you。 This day I change my brand。〃
So speaking； he tossed the cigar into a cuspidor。 And Kwaque； leaning back in the queerest chair in which he had ever sat； was unaware that the end of his finger had been burned and roasted half an inch deep； and merely wondered when the medicine doctor would cease talking and begin looking at the swelling that hurt his side under his arm。
And for the first time in his life； and for the ultimate time； Dag Daughtry fell down。 It was an irretrievable fall…down。 Life； in its freedom of come and go； by heaving sea and reeling deck； through the home of the trade…winds； back and forth between the ports； ceased there for him in Walter Merritt Emory's office； while the calm…browed Miss Judson looked on and marvelled that a man's flesh should roast and the man wince not from the roasting of it。
Doctor Emory continued to talk； and tried a fresh cigar； and； despite the fact that his reception…room was overflowing； delivered； not merely a long； but a live and interesting； dissertation on the subject of cigars and of the tobacco leaf and filler as grown and prepared for cigars in the tobacco…favoured regions of the earth。
〃Now； as regards this swelling；〃 he was saying； as he began a belated and distant examination of Kwaque's affliction； 〃I should say； at a glance； that it is neither tumour nor cancer； nor is it even a boil。 I should say 。 。 。 〃
A knock at the private door into the hall made him straighten up with an eagerness that he did not attempt to mask。 A nod to Miss Judson sent her to open the door； and entered two policemen； a police sergeant； and a professionally whiskered person in a business suit with a carnation in his button…hole。
〃Good morning； Doctor Masters；〃 Emory greeted the professional one； and； to the others： 〃Howdy； Sergeant；〃 〃Hello； Tim；〃 〃Hello； Johnsonwhen did they shift you off the Chinatown squad？〃
And then； continuing his suspended sentence； Walter Merritt Emory held on； looking intently at Kwaque's swelling：
〃I should say； as I was saying； that it is the finest； ripest； perforating ulcer of the bacillus leprae order； that any San Francisco doctor has had the honour of presenting to the board of health。〃
〃Leprosy！〃 exclaimed Doctor Masters。
And all started at his pronouncement of the word。 The sergeant and the two policemen shied away from Kwaque； Miss Judson； with a smothered cry； clapped her two hands over her heart； and Dag Daughtry； shocked but sceptical； demanded：
〃What are you givin' us； Doc。？〃
〃Stand still！ don't move！〃 Walter Merritt Emory said peremptorily to Daughtry。 〃I want you to take notice；〃 he added to the others； as he gently touched the live…end of his fresh cigar to the area of dark skin above and between the steward's eyes。 〃Don't move；〃 he commanded Daughtry。 〃Wait a moment。 I am not ready yet。〃
And while Daughtry waited； perplexed； confused； wondering why Doctor Emory did not proceed； the coal of fire burned his skin and flesh； till the smoke of it was apparent to all； as was the smell of it。 With a sharp laugh of triumph； Doctor Emory stepped back。
〃Well； go ahead with what you was goin' to do；〃 Daughtry grumbled； the rush of events too swift and too hidden for him to comprehend。 〃An' when you're done with that； I just want you to explain what you said about leprosy an' that nigger…boy there。 He's my boy； an' you can't pull anything like that off on him 。 。 。 or me。〃
〃Gentlemen； you have seen；〃 Doctor Emory said。 〃Two undoubted cases of it； master and man； the man more advanced； with the combination of both forms； the master with only the anaesthetic formhe has a touch of it； too； on his little finger。 Take them away。 I strongly advise； Doctor Masters； a thorough fumigation of the ambulance afterward。〃
〃Look here 。 。 。 〃 Dag Daughtry began belligerently。
Doctor Emory glanced warningly to Doctor Masters； and Doctor Masters glanced authoritatively at the sergeant who glanced commandingly at his two policemen。 But they did not spring upon Daughtry。 Instead； they backed farther away； drew their clubs； and glared intimidatingly at him。 More convincing than anything else to Daughtry was the conduct of the policemen。 They were manifestly afraid of contact with him。 As he started forward； they poked the ends of their extended clubs towards his ribs to ward him off。
〃Don't you come any closer；〃 one warned him； flourishing his club with the advertisement of braining him。 〃You stay right where you are until you get your orders。〃
〃Put on your shirt and stand over there alongside your master；〃 Doctor Emory commanded Kwaque； having suddenly elevated the chair and spilled him out on his feet on the floor。
〃But what under the sun 。 。 。 〃 Daughtry began； but was ignored by his quondam friend； who was saying to Doctor Masters：
〃The pest…house has been vacant since that Japanese died。 I know the gang of cowards in your department so I'd advise you to give the dope to these here so that they can disinfect the premises when they go in。〃
〃For the love of Mike；〃 Daughtry pleaded； all of stunned belligerence gone from him in his state of stunned conviction that the dread disease possessed him。 He touched his finger to his sensationless forehead； then sm