The Equinox (Volume I, Number VIII)

DOCTO R BO Β Dr. F. And now you‘ve killed her. Dr. Β. Ikilled her? Well, let me tell you, you killed her yourself. You let her think that she was not as bad as she was; that led her to neglect herself, and now you bring her to me with about a cubic inch of lung left to breathe with, and expect me to tell her that she'll live to be ninety. It's this infernal system of lying that‘s at the bottom of all the trouble. Dr. F. Well, she’ll die now, for sure. (They are now in the cofzml/iug—row/z.) By the way, shall I look at that throat of yours? Dr. B. Yes, I wish you would. It's very slight, but it's been hanging about for a month. [He sits trad throws his hem! haehfoe the examination, which DR. FIELDING hegz'm. MRS. BOB 0077265 in L., sees the two meh, am! draws bath, facing audience, 'wz'z‘h a pleased exfeez‘ah! smile]. Dr. F. Whewl ............ My God ! [He draws himself 7719 with a gesture ofutter ergo/1y)“ Dr. Β. What's the matter? Dr. F. My God! Pull yourself together, old man. I've bad news for you. Dr. B. (gone while) It’s you that need to pull yourself together. Come, out with it! It isn’t...... it isn't ...... Dr. F. Yes, it is. Dr. B. Cancer? Dr. F. Cancer. Oesophagus involved, too; it’s no use operating even. You haven’t a month. * This is genuine, Dr. Bob has really cancer ; this is the tragedy of the joke. or. i: must indicate this by his”י1121111191!? But he daren’t break it to Mrs. Bob, who thinks throughout that he is acting. 75