ah.thefinaldiagnosis-第36部分

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　Threading　the　corridor　traffic　with　the　skill　of　long　practice；　Kent　O'Donnell　headed　briskly　for　his　own　office　in　the　hospital。　He　too　had　a　full　schedule　ahead。　In　less　than　half　an　hour　he　was　due　on　the　operating　floor；　later　there　was　a　meeting　of　the　medical　executive　mittee；　and　after　that　he　had　several　patients　to　see　downtown；　a　program　which　would　take　him　well　into　the　evening。
　As　he　walked　he　found　himself　thinking　once　more　of　Lucy　Grainger。　Seeing　her；　being　as　close　as　they　were　a　few　moments　ago；　had　set　him　wondering　again　about　Lucy　and　himself。　But　now　the　old　familiar　doubts…the　feeling　that　perhaps　their　interests　had　too　much　in　mon　for　any　permanent　relationship…came　crowding　back。
　He　wondered　why　he　had　thought　so　much　about　Lucy　lately…or　any　woman　for　that　matter。　Perhaps　it　was　because　the　early　forties　were　traditionally　a　restive　time　for　men。　Then　he　smiled　inwardly；　recollecting　that　there　had　seldom　been　a　period　when　occasional　love　affairs…of　one　kind　or　another…had　not　e　naturally　to　him。　Nowadays　they　were　merely　spaced　more　widely　apart。　Also；　of　necessity；　he　was　obliged　to　be　considerably　more　discreet　than　in　his　younger　years。
　From　Lucy　his　thoughts　switched　to　Denise　Quantz。　Since　the　invitation　to　call　her；　which　she　had　given　him　the　night　they　had　met　at　Eustace　Swayne's　house；　O'Donnell　had　confirmed　his　attendance　at　a　surgeons'　congress　in　New　York。　It　occurred　to　him　that　the　date　was　next　week；　if　he　were　to　meet　Mrs。　Quantz；　he　had　better　make　the　arrangements　soon。
　As　he　turned　into　his　office　the　clock　over　his　desk　showed　twenty　minutes　before　his　first　operation　was　scheduled。　He　picked　up　the　telephone；　telling　himself　it　was　always　a　good　idea　to　do　things　when　you　thought　of　them。
　He　heard　the　operator　trace　the　number　through　New　York　Information；　then　there　was　a　ringing　tone　and　a　click。　A　voice　said；　〃This's　Mrs。　Quantz's　apartment。〃
　〃I　have　a　long…distance　call　for　Mrs。　Denise　Quantz；〃　the　Burlington　operator　said。
　〃Mrs。　Quantz's　not　here　now。〃
　〃Do　you　know　where　she　can　be　reached？〃　The　telephone　pany's　ritual　was　in　motion。
　〃Mrs。　Quantz's　in　Burlington；　Pennsylvania。　Do　you　wish　the　number　there？〃
　〃If　you　please。〃　It　was　the　Burlington　operator　again。
　〃The　number　is　Hunter　6…5735。〃
　〃Thank　you；　New　York。〃　There　was　a　click；　then　the　operator　said；　〃Did　you　get　that　number；　caller？〃
　〃Yes；　thank　you；〃　O'Donnell　said；　and　hung　up。
　With　his　other　hand　he　had　already　reached　for　the　Burlington　phone　directory。　He　thumbed　through　it　until　he　came　to　〃Swayne；　Eustace　R。〃　As　he　had　expected；　the　number　listed　was　the　one　he　had　just　been　given。
　Lifting　the　phone；　he　dialed　again。
　A　male　voice　said；　〃Mr。　Eustace　Swayne's　residence。〃
　〃I'd　like　to　speak　with　Mrs。　Quantz。〃
　〃One　moment；　please。〃
　There　was　a　pause。　Then；　〃This　is　Mrs。　Quantz。〃
　Until　this　moment　O'Donnell　had　forgotten　how　much　her　voice　had　attracted　him　before。　It　had　a　soft　huskiness；　seeming　to　lend　grace　to　the　simplest　words。
　〃I　wonder　if　you　remember；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　Kent　O'Donnell。〃
　〃Of　course！　Dr。　O'Donnell；　how　nice　to　hear　from　you！〃
　He　had　a　sudden　vision　of　her　beside　the　telephone；　the　soft　dark　hair　tumbled　about　her　shoulders。　Then　he　said；　〃I　just　called　you　in　New　York。　They　gave　me　the　number　here。〃
　〃I　flew　down　last　night；〃　Denise　Quantz　said。　〃Father　had　a　touch　of　bronchitis。　I　thought　I'd　stay　with　him　for　a　day　or　two。〃
　He　asked　courteously；　〃It's　not　too　serious；　I　hope？〃
　〃Not　really。〃　She　laughed。　〃My　father　has　the　constitution　of　a　mule…as　well　as　the　obstinacy。〃
　He　thought：　I　can　believe　that。　Aloud　he　said；　〃I　was　going　to　ask　you　to　have　dinner　with　me　in　New　York。　I　expect　to　be　there　next　week。〃
　〃You　can　still　ask　me。〃　The　reply　was　prompt　and　definite。　〃I'll　be　back　by　then。〃
　On　impulse　he　said；　〃Possibly　I　could　anticipate。　Do　you　have　a　free　evening　in　Burlington？〃
　After　a　moment's　pause　she　said；　〃Tonight　would　be　the　only　time。〃
　O'Donnell　calculated　quickly。　His　office　appointments　would　go　on　until　seven。　But　if　nothing　else　came　up　。　。　。
　His　thoughts　were　interrupted。　〃Oh；　wait！〃　It　was　Denise　Quantz　again。　〃I'd　forgotten。　Dr。　Pearson　is　having　dinner　with　my　father；　I　think　I　ought　to　stay。〃　She　added；　〃Unless　you'd　care　to　join　us？〃
　Mentally　he　chuckled。　Joe　Pearson　might　be　surprised　to　find　him　there。　Instinct；　though；　told　him　it　was　not　a　good　idea。　He　said；　〃Thank　you；　but　I　think　perhaps　we'd　better　postpone　it。〃
　〃Oh　dear。〃　Her　voice　sounded　disappointed；　then　she　brightened。　〃I　could　meet　you　after　dinner　if　you　like。　Father　and　Dr。　Pearson　are　sure　to　get　into　one　of　their　chess　games；　and　when　they　do　that　anyone　else　might　just　as　well　not　be　there。〃
　He　found　himself　suddenly　delighted。　〃That　would　be　wonderful。　What　time　will　you　be　free？〃
　〃About　nine…thirty；　I　imagine。〃
　〃Shall　I　call　for　you？〃
　〃It　would　probably　save　time　if　we　met　downtown。　You　tell　me　where。〃
　He　thought　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃The　Regency　Room？〃
　〃All　right；　at　half…past　nine。　Good…by　now。〃
　As　O'Donnell　replaced　the　phone　he　had　a　pleasant　sense　of　anticipation。　Then　he　glanced　at　the　clock　again。　He　would　have　to　hurry　if　he　were　to　be　in　the　O。R。　on　time。
　
　The　after…dinner　chess　game　between　Eustace　Swayne　and　Dr。　Joseph　Pearson　had　been　in　progress　for　forty　minutes。　The　two　old　men　faced　each　other　across　a　low　rosewood　games　table　in　the　same　paneled　library　where；　three　weeks　earlier；　O'Donnell　and　Swayne　had　had　their　verbal　joust。　Only　two　lights　were　burning　in　the　room…one　from　a　single　pendant　shade　immediately　above　the　table；　the　other　a　dimly　glowing　rococo　lamp　by　the　hallway　door。
　Both　men's　faces　were　in　shadow；　the　light　between　them　playing　directly　on　the　inlaid　chessboard　in　the　table's　center。　Only　when　one　or　the　other　leaned　forward　to　make　a　move　in　the　game　were　their　features　defined　momentarily　by　the　lamplight's　outer　edges。
　At　this　moment　both　were　still；　the　room's　deep　silence　hovering　like　a　padded　mantle　over　the　pair　of　Louis　XV　beechwood　wing　chairs　in　which　they　sat。　Eustace　Swayne　had　leaned　back。　Holding　a　brandy　glass　of　ruby　crystal　lightly　between　his　fingers；　he　surveyed　the　game　as　it　had　progressed　so　far。
　The　previous　move　had　been　Dr。　Joseph　Pearson's。　A　minute　or　two　ago；　gently　cradling　the　white　queen　from　the　exquisitely　carved　Indian…ivory　chess　set；　he　had　moved　the　piece　a　single　square　ahead。
　Now；　putting　down　the　brandy　glass；　Eustace　Swayne　selected　a　pawn　from　his　far　right　wing　and　transferred　it　two　squares　forward。　Then　gruffly；　breaking　the　silence；　he　said；　〃There　have　been　changes　at　the　hospital；　I　hear。〃
　Beyond　the　lamplight；　Joe　Pearson　studied　the　chessboard。　When　he　was　ready　he　leaned　forward　and　moved　a　pawn　on　his　left　wing　one　square　forward；　countering　the　other's　advance。　Only　then　did　he　grunt　the　one　word；　〃Some。〃
　Again　the　silence；　peace；　the　sense　of　time　halted。　Then　the　old　tycoon　stirred　in　his　chair。　〃Do　you　approve　these　changes？〃　He　reached　forward　and　slid　his　bishop　diagonally　two　squares　to　the　right。　Half　humorously　he　glanced　across　the　table　in　the　semi…darkness。　His　expression　said：　Beat　that　line…up　if　you　can。
　This　time　Joe　Pearson　answered　before　he　made　his　move。　〃Not　entirely。〃　He　remained　in　shadow；　studying　the　other's　gambit；　pondering　the　alternatives　ahead。　Then；　slowly；　still　handling　the　pieces　tenderly；　he　moved　his　rook　one　square　to　the　left；　dominating　an　open　line。
　Eustace　Swayne　waited。　A　minute　passed；　two　minutes；　then　three。　Finally　his　hand　reached　out　for　his　rook　and　made　a　similar　move　to　the　same　open　line；　meeting　his　opponent's　challenge。　Then　he　said；　〃You　have　a　means　of　veto　for　the　future　if　you　choose　to　exercise　it。〃
　〃Oh？　What　kind　of　veto？〃　The　question　was　casual　but　the　action　which　acpanied　it　swift。　Pearson　picked　up　his　queen's　knight　and　swung　it　over　the　pieces；　lodging　it　on　a　central　square。
　Studying　the　board；　assessing　the　strength　of　his　own　position；　Swayne　said；　〃I've　told　Orden　Brown…and　your　chief　of　surgery…I'm　willing　to　give　a　quarter　million　dollars　to　the　building　fund。〃　With　the　last　word　he　made　a　corresponding　move　to　Pearson's；　sending　his　king's　knight　forward　until　it　reached　the　square　beside　the　strongly　lodged　knight　of　his　opponent。
　A　long　silence　this　time。　At　the　end　of　it　the　pathologist　took　his　bishop　and；　swooping　down　the　board；　removed　an　opposing　pawn。　He　said　quietly；　〃Check。〃　Then；　〃That's　a　lot　of　money。〃
　〃I've　attached　a　condition。〃　Swayne；　on　the　defensive　now；　moved　his　king　one　square　to　the　right。　〃The　money　will　only　be　given　if　you　remain　free　to　run　your　own　department　in　the　hospital　the　way　you　want　for　as　long　as　you　choose。〃
　This　time　Joe　Pearson　made　no　move。　He　seemed　to　be　musing；　looking　away　into　the　darkness　over　the　other　man's　head。　Then　he　said　simply；　〃I'm　touched。〃　His　eyes　returned　to　the　chessboard。　After　a　while　he　lifted　his　knight　to　a　square　so　that　the　piece　attacked　Swayne's　now　cramped　king。
　Eustace　Swayne　had　watched　the　action　carefully。　But　before　making　his　own　move　he　reached　for　a　brandy　decanter；　filled　Pearson's　glass　and　then　his　own。　Putting　the　decanter　down；　〃It's　a　young　man's　world；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　suppose　it　always　has　been。　Except　that　sometimes　old　men　still　have　power　。　。　。　and　the　sense　to　use　it。〃　Then；　his　eyes　glinting；　he　reached　down；　picked　up　the　pawn　in　front　of　his　king；　and　with　it　captured　the　troublesome　knight。
　Thoughtfully　Pearson　stroked　his　chin　with　thumb　and　forefinger。　Then　he　selected　his　queen；　moved　it　six　squares　down　the　open　file；　and　captured　the　black　king's　pawn。　〃You　say　。　。　。　Orden　Brown；　O'Donnell　。　。　。　they　know　this？〃
　〃I　made　it　plain。〃　The　old　tycoon　took　his　king's　bishop　and　captured　his　opponent's　bishop　on　king's　knight　five。
　Suddenly　Joe　Pearson　chuckled。　There　was　nothing　to　show　whether　the　game　or　the　conversation　had　caused　his　amusement。　But　swiftly　he　reached　out。　He　moved　his　queen　beside　the　black　king。　Then；　softly；　〃Checkmate！〃
　Though　defeated；　caught　unawares；　Eustace　Swayne　had　watched　admiringly。　He　nodded；　as　if　to　confirm　his　own　judgment。
　〃